Dear Kee Gee,

We were deeply saddened by the passing of Mary. Our hearts ache for you and your family during this time of loss. Mary is such a dear friend and she will always be in our hearts.

Our deepest condolences to you and your family.

Mary was a kind hearted, welcoming person who was always open to having a conversation. Mary was one of the first people I met when I came to Calgary almost 42 years ago. I shared many meals together with her and Kee Gee and later with their kids. I also had the pleasure of riding along on a few road trips back to the Okanagan with Mary and Kee Gee and the kids. The kids made it impossible for me to nap on those trips. Definitely a lot of memories through the years. Mary will always occupy a special place in my heart. My condolences to Keys, Kyna, Keegan, Kyla, Keysha and the grandkids at this difficult time.

Kee Gee and family.

Mary was a sharing light in our neighborhood, always radiating cheerfulness and extending a helping hand to those around her. Her presence brought warmth and joy to our community and her passed away left a profound void in our hearts. Please accept our sincerest condolences during this difficult time. Mary's legacy of love and compassion will forever live in our hearts, and she will be deeply missed by all who have the privilege of knowing her.

With deepest sympathy,

Alice and Hanifah Yeung

Mary and Keys welcomed us back when we moved away to Ottawa and returned to Calgary. They introduced us to hiking when we lived in Calgary five years earlier. Mary always had a warm hug and beautiful smile. She also had a jovial laugh and stories to tell us whenever we got together. She was a dedicated mother and devoted to her husband, and was happy to stay at home to raise her children. She then pursued a six month grueling software course successfully, though it meant sleepless nights. Mary led a full life that I envied, she loved the outdoors, was a great gardener and made wonderful coffee. Everything she did was done with passion and thoroughness. I and our mutual friends will greatly miss Mary. God is welcoming Mary with open arms.

Mary wrote spiritually encouraging words to our high school chat group. She possessed the true “riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God” whenever she shared her thoughts and insights.Mary will be sadly missed. To Aileen and Kee Gee and family, please accept our sincerest sympathy. May our Lord God Almighty comfort you with His peace, surround you in His love and encourage you with his Presence. “He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him”. Isa. 26:3

With deep sympathy, Peter & Evelyn Lim

Sending all our love and deepest sympathies to Kee Gee & family. Mary was a kind and cheerful cousin. We will all miss her.

Mary, your.life was so full & rewarding.

I will miss your bubbly personality, the beautiful dimpled smiles, our fun times together with you & KeeGee, the numerous lunches & dinners (pot luck & restaurants), trips in &around Alberta & abroad, the mountain hikes & city walks.

It was never a dull moment when you were around, we could sit & chat for hours.

I recall our dance lessons every Saturday. You picked up the dance steps easily, & most of all retaining every move. We had you as our ‘instructor’ the few times the instructor was away.

You maybe gone, but beautiful memories of you will always remain with me.

You are dearly missed!

Too soon to go, Rest in peace, Mary!

‘Honour her for all that her hands have done, & let her works bring her praise at the city gate. ‘. Proverbs 31:31

Che gave us so many memories, especially since she was my first niece. I was with her since she was born, and I watched her grow, her entering kindergarten, and through the years of her schooling to her landing her first job with Meralco (Manila Electric Company) right after graduating from collage. So many unforgettable memories. She was with me when schoolmates were courting me and they would take us home riding in jeepneys. And when 2kotiu (Uncle Leoncio) came to court me and take me out on dates, she was always our chaperone. She slept with us when we were married and she even tour with us from Canada to USA.

I will not ever forget her. She stayed with me at the hospital when I had my hysterectomy. She was such an open girl, so sociable, excellent actress, super intelligent and smart, optimistic and knowledgeable! I just can’t understand why she ended up like this! I cried the whole day yesterday till my eyes were swollen. But I just cannot control myself whenever I think of her. I hope God will heal my broken heart in time!

I love you and miss you, Che.

Thelma King Ocampo (Aunt)

We wish to relay our deepest condolences to Kee Gee & family, we have lost our favorite cousin, Mary, a wonderful being who shared life & laughter with everyone.

Felix Cocuaco (Cousin)

We are all saddened to learn about Auntie Baby's passing. She was a remarkable person, always full of love and energy, even during difficult time. She will be dearly missed and remembered.

We will all pray for Auntie Baby's soul and that she may rest in peace.

Gail (Niece)

Mary, Baby, as known by many, is our dearest and beloved Che Che, it means big sister, she took her role very seriously as one. In our household, no one likes white meat, When there was only one dark meat left in the plate, she would give it to me when I know she wanted it too. One time, I was into hula hoops, she came home and surprised me with it, and I spent hours hula hooping, she got into trouble with our mom, because that’s all I did all day, my mom was upset because I was already skin and bones to begin with, she was afraid my body was going to snap in half with my hula hoop obsession. When she got her first car, she would sometimes take us all to watch a movie or just go out for a quick bite to eat. When I was too lazy to walk to school, she would get up from her nap to drive me. Yes, she spoiled me, but she was also stern with me as my terror tutor in math and chinese curriculum. Math is the most challenging subject for me, I really got into her nerves when I just cannot get it, and one night, she was already exhausted and I was just not focusing anymore and dozing off, she angrily grabbed my freshly sharpened pencil from my hand and accidentally hit me in the eye, I saw the horror expression on her face as I start to bleed, luckily I blinked when it happened and it was my eyelid that got poked. That incident was very scary back then, but now we laugh about it at our occasional get togethers and reminisce about our Sta Mesa days. She loved being the big sister to all of us her siblings and to numerous cousins, even when she was already sick, she would drop by with food she bought or fruits, she would insist on driving us to and from airport when she was already so busy with her doctor’s appointments and treatments, I have never known a person who spoke all 5 love languages as well as she does, She was just so giving, generous and selfless, always ready to give a hand. She may be small, dainty and cute looking, but she is not easily intimidated and would courageously face challenges especially for those she loves and deeply cares for. Che Che loved every minute of every day, enjoying walks at the Ravine by their neighbourhood, looking out the window from their house to watch for deers and coyotes, She was very proud of her garden and describes each plant with a background story where its from or who gave it to her. A nice, sunny day is never wasted with her and Kee Gee, enjoying a drive just to appreciate the beauty of nature around her, she was a walking sunshine that brightens someone’s day with her big warm smile and vibrancy. Although her life was cut short, she lived each day to the fullest.

It is a great loss, greater than I can fathom, I will miss my Che Che so badly, her voice, her cheerful and unbreakable spirit, her enthusiasm, my cheerleader and biggest fan.

Someone once said to me, why am I so deeply affected by my sister’s illness, at first I was very angry at the comment, but I realized that not everybody is lucky enough to have a sister like Che Che, and only a few understands how deeply we all loved each other.

I love you so so much Che Che, thank you for your selfless love, A big part of you will always live in me, til we meet again.

Mary is our eldest sister in a brood of five, we fondly called her Che Che ( elder sister in chinese ) to most of our aunts and uncles she was Baby ( because for most of them she is their first baby). Our che che is so active, bubbly, joyful, talkative, positive, loving, compassionate, selfless, generous, always willing to help and give advice. She is always with us in every ups and downs. In every season of our lives she is always our number 1 fan, she is happy and proud of our achievements and victories and she is our great comforter and encourager in our failures. We were born 11 years and 1 day apart between us are 2 brothers, so we are very close to each other. I remember when I was still young and she was already a young lady then, she used to take me with her on trips and activities such as when she was invited by her good friend to Covelandia (a resort in Cavite), to Baguio for a retreat and also brought me to learn to properly use a typewriter with her somewhere in Recto. After she got married and migrated to Canada, whenever she came to visit the Philippines, she'll always bring me "pasalubong" (travel gifts). I remember when we got crazy about FitFlops she bought me like 8 pairs of it. She is that generous.

I really admire our Che Che's selflessness. When she got diagnosed with late stage cancer, she told me "Oh Aileen good thing it is me who got it and not any of you because I don't know how I can take it". Even in her last days when she prays, she is always so grateful and thankful to God and always telling us she loves us so much and thanks us everytime. Even in her sickness and pain, she is full of love and gratefulness.

Che I love you very very very much and will miss you very very very much. Though I know you are now in the presence of OUR LOVING FATHER IN HEAVEN and having a grand time with our loved ones there especially with Papa and Mama. We still long for you to be with us. You left a big void in our lives. You will forever be loved and missed.

Kees, Kyna, Keegan, Kyla, and Keysha, and to Wendy

I am so incredibly sorry to hear of your loss, I think that Mary was among the most loving moms I have ever encountered. I don't imagine that any of you will remember me, but be assured that I will never forget your amazing mom. My wife, Linda Wong, was a friend of Mary and a close friend of Wendy, and I remember being at your home when the kids were toddlers, and your mom taking off your shirts so that you could eat lunch (spaghetti, if I recall correctly, but certainly something about that messy) without too much mess. So practical. So smart. Such a loving mom. I also remember, very fondly, Keegan reaching up to touch the "white-guy" hair on my arm as I sat on the sofa. Silly, I know, but the kind of things that make life-long memories. Tears are running down my face as I think of all of you.

With kindest regards,

Fraser Elhorn

What is the common denominator of all the memories being shared here? It’s Mary’s smile and bubbly personality. We were high school classmates ( Grace Christian High School) and graduated in 1971. I haven’t seen her since graduation till another classmate and I visited her in Calgary in 2016 .Our meeting was, as if we never parted since graduation. Her welcoming personality just made us feel so comfortable. There was never an awkwardness one would normally feel in such situation, and that’s because it’s Mary .

Kee Gee and family, please accept our sincerest condolences. We all know that she’s now with our Lord, where all the physical pain and suffering she had endured are washed away.

Kee Gee and family

KP and I are so sorry to hear about your loss! Our heartfelt condolences goes out to you and your loved ones from the US! May you find strength and comfort during this challenging period! Mary was a fun friend to be with. Her laughter and cheerfulness always brought joys to our gatherings! May you rest in peace, Mary! We will always miss you!

It was definitely a shock to hear of Mary's passing. Our condolences to Kee Gee and family. Have known Mary and family for 32 years or so, will definitely miss Mary's bubbly personality!!

Oh, my dearest sister Mary, she was called by many other names, cheche, baby, Achie, etc. After Mary passed away on the 19th of April, I felt that the world we live in had shifted to a much sadder place. Che was a joyful, bubbly and ever curious person, she had an endless thirst for knowledge of everything under the sun, every person’s life and of course the best deals in the restaurant world here in Calgary. Even when she was suffering from the effects of cancer or medication, she could always tell you where the best dim sum deals were.

Our sister Mary could also talk quite a bit. She had a habit of talking nonstop at parties, from the time she arrived to the time Kee Gee already made it to the car, with the car engine running. It takes her approximately 30 minutes to one hour to make it to the door…still chatting. Also, our Cheche can speak fluently in Fookien, Mandarin, English, Tagalog and Toisan. So, if you can speak any combination of these languages, I am sure Mary could talk until your ears fall off. This makes me wonder if she has made it to heaven yet, or if she’s still on her way, stopping and chatting with every angel she comes across.

We will for sure miss our dearest Cheche so much. We will miss her thoughtfulness, generosity, kindness, warmth, and talkativeness. She will continue to live in her four wonderful creations, Kyna, Keegan, Kyla and Keysha, also in Geoff and Chris, her dearest Cedar and Raine and of course her other half, which makes one of the best partnerships I have ever seen, in Kee Gee. We love you guys very, very much. Che we miss you so much until we meet again.

Arthur Myla and family

Dear Kee Gee and Family,

It is very difficult to bear the loss of someone very special. It is going to take time a long time to ease the sadness that

we all feel now. May the fond recollections and memories of all we shared with Mary make tomorrow a little brighter.

" We never loose the ones we love For, even though they're gone,

Within the hearts of those who care,

their memory lingers on."

WITH SYMPATHY from Adolfo and Godella

Kee Gee and Family:

With heavy hearts, we are sad to hear about your loss. Mary was a great lady and a kind soul. We will surely miss her, especially for her smiles and laughs. We will always remember her saying "Wow" as a positive response during our many lovely conversations. Furthermore, we enjoyed her company in our Cuba trip and various cruises. She was fun and easy to get along with. In Calgary, we had dinners, outings and house parties, which are definitely wonderful occasions with happy memories.

We know that no words can replace your deep loss. We just wanted to let you know our thoughts and prayers are with you in such time of grief. May Mary rest in peace.

Kim and Danny (Calgary)

Right after she graduated from college, she applied for a rare opening in the only company supplying electrical power throughout Manila and most of the island of Luzon. Despite the fact that examinations and culling process would involve a period of about three months, over a thousand applications were received by the company and in the end, the position was awarded to Mary. By the time she started work, it was only a few short months before Chinese New Year came around but by that time, she had not only bought gifts for Mama and Papa, she had even prepared a red packet with lucky money for our Grandmother who had always doted on us. From the expression on Grandma’s face, it might have been the best gift she had received in a very long time. That she had excellent brains, no one doubted since she first stepped into kindergarten. That she had a big heart is obvious to all who had known her right up to the day she passed away. She will be terribly missed.

Dear Kee, and family.

On behalf of Wellspring Alberta, please accept our deepest condolences on the loss of Mary. Mary had the most beautiful soul and brought peace and kindness to everyone she interacted with. Please know that she will be missed deeply. We will continue to be there for you Kee and we will continue our work and support in her memory.

Holding you close to our hearts.

Scott Patterson,

Wellspring Alberta

Kee Gee and the kids, and to Maybelle and Jomil and all families. My heart aches for your loss. Mary is an ispiration to all with her wisdom and wit. I learned so much from her. She is so passionate in what she do. Very friendly and values a person who ever she engaged with. A beautiful soul and a rare gem. Her soft voice always captivates a very engaging conversation. I love listening to her presentations and personal sharings over cup of coffee. So sad to believe that she is gone. Praying for the repose of her soul. R.I.P Mary.

Kee Gee and family. I'm very sorry to read this staggering news. I very much enjoyed our many outings and gatherings over the years. Mary's calm and and pleasant demeanor was a joy to be connected to . My thoughts are with all of you as you grieve the passing of your wife/mother. R.I.P. Mary.

Kee Gee and the kids, my thoughts and prayers are with you all in time of grief. I wish you peace and comfort as you grieve. I am sorry for your loss, I am going to miss Mary lots too. What a great loss to the world and she will be missed by so many.

My fond memories of her when we were on the first cruise and we got reconnected again in Cuba. After which we shared the loved of Atomy and she was indeed one of my best business partner. Whenever I need any consultation or tips, she was there to guide me, I surely miss that great connection we have. Rest in peace my dear friend.