Robert See Mine Wong

It is with great sadness the family of Robert See Mine Wong announces his passing at the Foothills Hospital on Wednesday, November 23, 2016. Robert was born in Taishan, Guangdong province, China. At a young age of 14, he journeyed to Victoria, BC to join his grandfather Wong Ark Hong. Bob worked hard to learn the language and customs of his new country. He was always proud to be a Canadian. In 1957 he went back to Taishan to marry Joy Yit Yee and then brought her back to Canada to begin their lives together. Bob and Joy were happily married for 55 years. He was predeceased by his loving wife Joy who passed away in 2012. Bob’s working passion was cooking, starting as an apprentice chef at the famous Empress Hotel in Victoria. Bob successfully ran and worked at a number of restaurants in Golden, Swan Hills, Vancouver and Calgary, notably the famous Jade Palace Restaurant. He worked for Phil’s Pancake House warehouse managing the supplies required by the various franchises under the Phil’s Pancake House name. Bob with his partners, successfully ran a catering business for many years and joyfully served thousands Calgarians during festivals throughout the year. After successfully completing the Culinary Program at SAIT, Bob joined Centennial Packers where he worked 15 years as a specialty line butcher and took an early retirement to focus on his family. Bob’s greatest enjoyment was spending time with grandchildren, family and friends. Bob and Joy always welcomed people to their house where they would prepare numerous elaborate tasty dishes, leaving you too full and with leftovers to last a week. Bob also enjoyed travelling back to the old country where he and Joy were veterans of many trips. Bob is survived by his loving children Bill (Qun), Garry, Sammee (Robert) Coutts and treasured grandchildren Stephanie, Justin, Jason, Ashlee and Jacqueline. He is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces in Calgary and Vancouver. The family wishes to acknowledge and thank the nurses and doctors from ER and Unit 81 at the Foothills Hospital for the care Bob received. A Visitation will be held on Friday, December 2, 2016 at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, Ste 100, 119 – 14 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.