Verna Wong

Verna Wong (Bǎo Zhū) passed away at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, at age 47 after a 4-year battle with heart complications, surrounded by family. She is survived by her fiancé, Dana, and her son Alex (Noelle), mother, Mei-Yin (Lim Dip), sister Jady (Dastin), brother Eric (Katie), niece Ezara and nephews Kyler and Jace.

Born at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba on February 17, 1976, Verna made Winnipeg her home base while she ventured to faraway places like Jamaica, Paris, the Dominican Republic, and China. She enjoyed long drives and made trips to Edmonton to visit family and Minneapolis to shop for gifts for those she loved.

While she enjoyed traveling, her active social life kept her strongly tied to the province. Verna prioritized spending time with her son Alex and her childhood friends and their families, often attending dinner parties or movie nights. During the summer, she could be found lazing on the beach, or fishing off a boat on Nutimik Lake, or the banks of the Red River at Lockport.

Verna graduated from Sisler High School and received training as a legal assistant at Herzing College. After working in law offices, she transitioned to the banking industry as financial account manager at Assiniboine Credit Union. Assisting colleagues and forging friendships outside of work was in her nature, and that authentic kindness was not lost on Dana, who proposed to her in 2022.

She is survived by her great-aunt Sui Yip Mah (Yun Sen); aunts, Lily (Gord) and Betty (Wing Lee), and her uncles Paul (Judy), Stanley (Irene), and Michael (Wai); her cousins, Nancy (Curtis), Norton (Margie), Peter (Jonalyn), Wilma (Lewis), Wanda (Raymond), Bobby (Pauline), Larry, Pam (Mark), Wendy, Leslie (Melvin), Linda, Nikki, Heidi, Max, Charmaine, Cory, Valentina, Victor, Joanne, Bond, and Flora; and godchildren, Hayden, Carter, Kiara, Ronin, Ryder, Mason, Tristen, and Juliana.

Predeceased by her father, Lim Dip Wong (Joe); grandparents Jun Yu Wong, Fung Dang Mah, Sui Lan Ng, Kay Yip Kwan; great-grandparents, Wo Soon (Tsui Lau); uncles, Lim Shek (Miu Haa Mah); Jimmy, Cheung Sui, and John; and great-uncles, Wo Wing (Gim Hoi Mah), Jin Wah (Lai King) and Jimmy (Ping).

Verna cared for people and animals with her generous nature and kind heart. She was a friend to all, and her memory will be cherished by those who knew her. Nothing could ever replace the beauty of her essence.

Thank you to all the staff at the Acute Cardiac Care Unit at St. Boniface Hospital for the attention and care they provided.

A celebration of life will be held at Garden City Community Centre, 725 Kingsbury Ave., Winnipeg, MB., on February 23, 2024, at 5:00 PM.