John Wong Man Ban passed away on Saturday 1st July 2017 in Ottawa, Canada, aged 85. He was taken ill on the morning of 1st July and suffered a cardiac arrest on the way to hospital. He is survived by his wife, three children and three grandchildren.
John was born in Toishan, Guangdong, China, the youngest of three children of Wong Kwong Tsoi and Yu Ho Tai. John moved to Hong Kong where he made a career for himself as a teacher and St John's ambulance driver before settling into a career as an optician.
He met his future wife, Ng Shu Fong, when instead of charging her for a pair of spectacles, he asked her for a date. After getting married, they returned to Shu Fong's place of birth in Sandakan, Malaysia. John set up Chinese Optical Company there and over 30 years became a respected member of the local Roman Catholic Church and Si Yip Chinese Association.
John worked tirelessly to help his community. He often gave his services as an optician free, donated generously, opened his home to anyone who needed help and always had time for his family and friends.
Many in Malaysia remember John for his cooking skills, especially snake soup and roast pork. Some might remember him for his refusal to trade his abacus for the calculator. Despite suffering from acute travel sickness, John loved to travel and he braved long coach trips across Europe and Scandinavia.
John and Shu Fong emigrated to Canada in 1994 after John was forced to retire following a stroke. They lived with their eldest son Paul for several happy years until eventually John moved to a care home in Ottawa.
A liturgy service is being held at a private chapel in Ottawa, Canada, at 1:30 pm, Saturday 8th July 2017. This is being followed by the interment of the ashes at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa at 3 pm on the same day.
John was born in Toishan, Guangdong, China, the youngest of three children of Wong Kwong Tsoi and Yu Ho Tai. John moved to Hong Kong where he made a career for himself as a teacher and St John's ambulance driver before settling into a career as an optician.
He met his future wife, Ng Shu Fong, when instead of charging her for a pair of spectacles, he asked her for a date. After getting married, they returned to Shu Fong's place of birth in Sandakan, Malaysia. John set up Chinese Optical Company there and over 30 years became a respected member of the local Roman Catholic Church and Si Yip Chinese Association.
John worked tirelessly to help his community. He often gave his services as an optician free, donated generously, opened his home to anyone who needed help and always had time for his family and friends.
Many in Malaysia remember John for his cooking skills, especially snake soup and roast pork. Some might remember him for his refusal to trade his abacus for the calculator. Despite suffering from acute travel sickness, John loved to travel and he braved long coach trips across Europe and Scandinavia.
John and Shu Fong emigrated to Canada in 1994 after John was forced to retire following a stroke. They lived with their eldest son Paul for several happy years until eventually John moved to a care home in Ottawa.
A liturgy service is being held at a private chapel in Ottawa, Canada, at 1:30 pm, Saturday 8th July 2017. This is being followed by the interment of the ashes at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa at 3 pm on the same day.
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