It is with profound sadness and much love that our family say goodbye to our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, Betty Yung Wong. Betty passed away February 20, 2021 at the age of 85 years.
Born in Hong Kong in 1935, Betty was the sixth child in a large close-knit family. She took a job in her twenties at the Tin Kwong factory quickly rising the ranks to become a group leader. There she met factory accountant and husband of 60 years, Poyen Wong. Shortly after marrying, Betty immigrated to Canada in February 1965 with her husband, mother-in-law, and young daughter. She often would reminisce and retell their immigration story stating that the day they stepped off the plane in Canada the temperature was minus 30 and she was in high heels.
Betty (along with her husband) struggled and worked all their lives to provide for a better life for their children, from starting up one of the first Asian food and herb markets on Jasper Avenue, to running numerous grocery stores, restaurants, bean sprouts grow ops, to making dumplings and cleaning up after high school students. One of Betty’s career highlight was sewing jeans for the GWG Company. Betty never forgot her family faraway in Hong Kong, and over the years, Betty and Poyen sponsored many families and friends to this amazing country.
Betty enjoyed most spending time with her kids and grandkids. Weekly family dinners had been routine, even if it meant cramming all 15 members at the back of the grocery store. She loved watching the Edmonton Oilers and was lifelong fan of Wayne Gretzky. When he was featured in a GWG ad, it made her year. As a long-time grocer, Betty prided herself in her ability to remember inventory needs without a written list and her discerning eye for bargains. Over the years she made great friendships with regular customers and wholesale retailers alike—everyone knew Betty where she shopped but mostly, everyone loved her cheery demeanor.
Betty is lovingly remembered by husband, Poyen; daughter, Hyland; sons, Gary (and wife, Sarah, and their sons, Douglas and Isaac) and Terry (and his partner, Anthea and their kids, Haley and Grayson); and daughter, Susan (and her husband, Andrew, and their kids, Parker and Ella); brothers, Lai Yung Ip and wife, Lai Sau Fun, and their kids, Lai (Wendy) Yuen Sheung (Lai Chung Yuen), and Lai (Patrick) Man Keung and youngest brother, Lai Yung Tat (Mui Ling) and their kids, Ming Sze, Louis, Eva (Victor Ma) and their son; sister, LAI Yung Chun and her daughter Cheung Pik Sai and family, and sons, Cheung Ka Kee and Cheung Ying Kee; nieces and nephews, Lai Chi Kong (Wong Kit Fong) and their families; Lai Wan Yee and daughters, Lai Chi Wah (Chan Sau Chun) and kids; Lai Ying Kit and Lai Ching Yee (Lum You HBettyung) and family; Lai Chi Wai (Dodiana Wong); Mimi Lai (Du Camp) and kids, Elaine Du and Hugo Lai; great nephew, Lai Chong Kei, and great niece, Lai Chi Ying and their families; nephew Edmond Lai (Clara) and their daughter and son-in-law; niece, Jeannie Hon (Royce) and their kids, and niece-in-law, Queenie Yao and son; sister-in-law, Ellen Mah (David) and family; and many more extended family and friends.
Betty was predeceased by her parents (Lai Youn Sang and Cheng Won Kwai), 1st and 2nd eldest siblings, and 3rd eldest brother, Lai Yung Kan and nephew, Norman Lai; 4th eldest brother, sister-in-law, and nephew, Lai Yang Ge (and wife, Leung Suet Ying), and, Lai Chi Hung; and brother-in-law, wife, and nephew, Bing Poy Wong (Lila G. Wong) and Eric Wong.
Serenity Funeral Service North Chapel
780-477-7500
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de WONG Betty Yung nee Lai February 20 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Edmonton, Province: Alberta