Obituary of Tony Tung-Il Hwang

October 25, 1940 – Seoul, South Korea

April 17, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Tony Tung-Il Hwang, beloved husband of Clarissa Young-Ok Hwang (née Lee), of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, April 17, 2023, at the age of 82 years.

He was born in Seoul to Ki-Chung Hwang and Ok-Rin Suh on October 25, 1940. He graduated from Seoul National University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He worked as a communications engineer in Vietnam, then immigrated to Canada where he married Clarissa in 1970 and worked as a systems specialist for Honeywell in partnership with the University of Calgary for most of his career. He was voted best customer support specialist more than ten years in a row.

Tony had the highest-level HAM radio operator license. His call sign was VE6CGX. He played baritone and the organ and was teaching himself how to play the accordion. He never stopped reading and learning, and everyone turned to him for advice about a vast range of topics ranging from car repair to photography. He loved to tell jokes, and he laughed often with his family and friends. He enjoyed camping and fishing, and he was the favourite human of all the family pets.

His advice to his children was to work hard, put family first and live a life without regrets.

Besides his loving wife, Clarissa, Tony is survived by his daughter, Liana (Jeff Litster) Hwang, his son, Adam Hwang, and his grandson, Xavier Valeo. Tony is also survived by his two sisters, Hye-Ja (Kun-Il Lee) Hwang and Helena Hye-Sook (Jim) Willmon (née Hwang), one sister-in-law Andrea Chung-Ok (Dennis Dae-Hoon) Kang (née Lee), and one former sister-in-law, Euny Hwang (née Cho), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Tony was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Andrew Kang-Soo Hwang. 

30 years ago, a kidney transplant saved his life and made it possible for him to live a full and rich life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Anne’s Korean Catholic Church (910 – 21st Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB) on Friday, April 21, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Tony Hwang, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.