Kit Yee Woo

Kit Yee Woo passed away holding hands with his loving wife Hoi Chi Woo (née Der) on November 15, 2022. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.

Kit was born in Hoiping, Guangdong, China, January 15, 1927, a formidable way to start the Chinese New Year. Kit knew how to make an entrance. An athletic young man, Kit was an avid basketball player and strong swimmer. A natural leader, he managed his first big project at 11 years old — building his father’s house in the village.

He continued building his future with a move to Kindersley, Saskatchewan, in 1955. His wife, young daughter and son joined him in 1959 when they settled in Calgary, Alberta. Kit prodigiously worked his way up the Chinese restaurant scene, eventually starting his own bean sprout business in 1966 as a grower and supplier to restaurants, and partnering with friends to open Chung Kew, a Chinese supermarket. In that time, Kit and Hoi had grown their family as well, with two more daughters. His Chinese-Canadian family was taking root, with nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren to come.

Community was close to Kit’s heart. The local Chinese community associations supported Kit in the early years in Canada, and he returned the kinship forward in Calgary. Kit served seven terms as president of the Chan Woo Yuen Association and was the first two-term president of the Chinese Freemasons.

A friend to many, Kit is best remembered by his family as a devoted husband of 70 years of happy marriage to Hoi, the love of his life. He is survived by his wife Hoi and his children Eva (Rick), Bill, Edie (Augustine), and Elaine; grandchildren Jennifer (Andrew), Jacqueline (Yassen), Justine, Janelle (Gareth), Jillian, Christopher, Jeremy (Belinda), Evan (Kirsten) and Shaelyn (Michael); great-grandchildren Eva and Liam; his sister, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents and brother.

A Visitation will be on held Friday, November 25, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and A Funeral Service on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 10:00 AM, at Foster’s Garden Chapel Funeral Home, 3220 - 4th Street NW, Calgary. Interment will follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery.