Maria Ka Lai Cheung

Maria was born in Hong Kong on February 26, 1955. She was the third child and eldest sister of seven children. She was known for being intelligent and loving. Having lost both her parents at a young age she moved to Calgary, Canada, in 1973 to study. After marrying at the age of 20 she had her first child, Joshua. Unfortunately, the marriage ended, and she had become a single parent mother at the age of 21. Though these times were the toughest in her life, she built herself up, finished school and quickly saved enough to buy her own house by working two jobs in 1982.

After moving she met her loving husband Sidney in 1984 and had two children Florence and Stephen. Both Maria and Sidney worked hard to build a family in the backdrop of recession and tough economic environments, but they saved enough to buy their longtime home in 1990.

As the economic downturn continued, Maria made what was one of the hardest decisions for her. In 1996, she would face single parenting again but with three children and sent Sidney back to Hong Kong to find a true career and support the family financially. Her toughness and heart paid off again. Sidney soon established a career that would be able to reunite the family in Hong Kong in 1998.

The family stabilized in Hong Kong and established homes in both Calgary and Hong Kong. As her family blossomed, Maria helped to bring over 15 family members and close friends to establish homes in Canada. She found a career in helping others as an ESL teacher; working at a school for special needs children; worked in habituating newly immigrated families at social services; and established the first Board of Education Chinese language school in Calgary among other things. She was always ready to help and was known for her lively personality. She was the uniting force in not only her immediate family but also her extended family and friends. She loved to travel and could sing Chinese Opera.

Maria is lovingly remembered by husband Mr. Sidney Wong; son Mr. Joshua Leung and daughter in law Huang Danye; daughter Ms. Florence Wong and son in law Henry Lo; son Mr. Stephen Wong; Grandsons Jonathan Leung, Nicholas Leung and granddaughters Elly Lo and Miya Lo.