Lai Mui Sue

February 23, 1945 – March 5, 2019

Although her official identification gives a different birthdate, Lai Mui Sue was in fact born as Lai Mui Chow on February 23, 1945 in Panyu, Guangdong, China, in an area that is now part of the city of Guangzhou. Between her birth and her untimely death on March 5, 2019, she lived a full life that spanned 74 years and 3 continents. Her childhood was spent in China, as part of a large family with 9 brothers and sisters. As a teenager, she moved to Hong Kong where she lived briefly before immigrating to what was then British Guiana (now Guyana) in South America at the beginning of 1966 to marry Tait Shun Sue, who had similarly moved from China via Hong Kong to British Guiana and with whom Lai Mui had maintained a long-distance relationship through letter-writing for years. They quickly married and became parents by the end of 1966 and parents of 2 children by 1968, just shortly before they unrooted the whole family and moved to Vancouver, Canada in 1969. They had a third child in 1972, before moving to the ‘burbs (Delta/Surrey) where they ended up operating a number of grocery stores for many years. Over time, they sponsored / supported Lai Mui Sue’s very large family in China to immigrate to Canada. Family was really important to them and they worked really hard to provide for and support not only their children but also their extended families, before they finally “retired” in early 1986. But by the end of 1986, they started yet another adventure – a fourth child with whom they could enjoy being fulltime parents without juggling demanding work or major moves. Tait Shun Sue passed away suddenly in 2014 after suffering a head injury from a fall, but Lai Mui Sue would continue to live in the same house in Delta they shared since 1982. In July 2018, Lai Mui Sue was diagnosed with an advanced-stage cancer, and after a too-brief struggle with the disease, Lai Mui Sue passed away on March 5, 2019. At the time of her death, she was surrounded by family and she passed away peacefully, finally free of the cancer from which she had been suffering. She will be dearly missed.

Lai Mui Sue is survived by her daughter Wee Chyiu Sandy Mar and son-in-law Shan Poon Mar; son Hilton Sue and daughter-in-law Becky Luk; son Ritchie Sue and daughter-in-law Cindy Lee; and son Kyle Sue, along with grandchildren Niki Mar, Noah Mar, Catelyn Sue, Brayden Sue and Emily Sue and many other loving family members. She spent her life watching over her family, and her family members are sure she will continue to do so now.

Lai Mui Sue’s family is enormously grateful to the staff of the Delta Hospice Society for their amazing care and support in making her last days comfortable and peaceful. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Delta Hospice Society (these wonderful people rely mainly on volunteers and donations for their operations). Lai Mui Sue’s family is also thankful to the medical teams at Peace Arch Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital and the BC Cancer Agency for treating her as best they could through her illness.

A celebration of life and funeral service will be held for Lai Mui Sue starting at 12:30 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the chapel and cemetery at Victory Memorial Park at 14831 – 28th Avenue, Surrey, BC, followed by a dinner reception starting at 5:00 pm at Lee Garden Seafood Restaurant at #130 – 8080, 120th Street, Surrey, BC, where friends and family can continue to share memories and celebrate the life of Lai Mui Sue.