Obituary of Ha NGO

June 18, 1928 – Shiu Hing, Canton, China 
March 1, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Ha Ngo of Calgary, AB, passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at the age of 91 years.

Ha Ngo was born into a family with one brother and one sister in Shiu Hing, Canton, China. After an elementary education, he helped out with the family noodle business that his mother started in Saigon, Vietnam. Eventually, Ha inherited the business and this became the foundation for raising his family of eight children. He wed his wife Tran Chau, through an arranged marriage and together they led a happy marriage. On the rare occasion that they quarreled, all their children would sit in a row and cry, and the quarrel would end soon. Life was vivid and intense in the rich Vietnamese culture. The family loved to connect through meals and felt blessed to enjoy the bountiful food that was available. 

But trouble was brewing and the Vietnam War broke out. The family lived in Saigon and persevered through the war with their noodle business. Ha was a man who would give anything to protect his loved ones. He was a person of few words but showed his love through his actions. Even while busy running the business, he did everything in his power to ensure that his eldest son, Bill, did not end up serving in the Army, and provided sports and arts lessons to develop his younger children. One time he went to Tai Chi with his youngest son, Peter. His motorcycle broke down; and he’d stopped to fix it.  Once it was fixed, he hopped on, humming, and drove away, leaving Peter at the roadside, bewildered. Luckily for Peter, Ha realized his son was missing after about two blocks and came back to get him. This joke has been passed from generation to generation; and everyone still gets great laughs about it.

After the war, Ha and Tran worked diligently over a four-year period, and after accumulating some wealth they were able to get the family out of the country. Ha himself gave up a lifetime of cigarette smoking in order to pass the medical exams and moved to Canada with his family. By 1984, the family began their new life in Canada, residing in Red Deer, Alberta. Ha accepted life in Canada and never complained about the culture shock he must have experienced. All his life he loved to travel and especially getting his photo taken. Watching his family thrive and find their own life partners was a source of his satisfaction, which was sadly interrupted by the passing of his wife in 2000. 

Ha lived independently for almost 20 more years, had never complained and humbly accepted his simple family life. He enjoyed independent living in his apartment in Chinatown, which was steps away from some of his favourite places: Calgary Court Restaurant and Calgary Chinese Seniors Centre, where he spent time with many like-minded friends. In his last two years, he agreed to move into supportive living. He continued to enjoy the company of his expanding family, along with their laughter and conversation - and he still loved to get his photo taken. 

Ha leaves behind eight children and seven grandchildren who are all endlessly grateful for the life he has given them.

Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB), on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.  Graveside Service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Ha’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Ha Ngo, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB, T2E 2V6,   Telephone: 403-243-8200.