Susan Ding (Sau Kuen Young) of Ottawa passed away peacefully on November 23, 2024 at the age of 94. Predeceased by her husband George Ding (Shun Chek Au) and her parents Den Suey Young and Yee Moy Wong. She leaves behind her children Allan, Marion, Roland, Edward and Terry, her grandchildren Courtney (Jason) Truong, Alexander and Andrew and great-grandchildren Eloise and Phoebe. She also leaves behind her sister Sau Tuen (Sang) Fong, brother Wei Lam Young and many nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed by extended Au and Ding families in Newfoundland and Ontario and by Young families in California.
Born in Sonwei, Kwangtung, China, she also lived in Macau and Hong Kong. Her years in China were marked by incredible danger, hardship and lack of food. Her stories of survival included sharing meals of one egg and a bowl of rice amongst her mother and two sisters during the war and fleeing Japanese forces. When World War II began, the parents sent the girls to Hong Kong for their safety. She met her future husband and was married in Hong Kong.
She arrived in Canada in 1956 and they settled in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Her new life in Canada was an adjustment as she was unfamiliar with the Canadian climate, culture and language but with the generosity of new friends she persevered. Her husband’s engineer career took them to Moncton, New Brunswick and they eventually settled in Ottawa. She was a true survivor.
Susan loved to dance, paint Chinese landscapes and listen to Western music. She liked to cook traditional Chinese food including simple dishes such as steamed fish and rice. She enjoyed reading her weekly Chinese newspapers to stay up-to-date with current events and news of her former homeland.
The family would like to acknowledge and thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Section A5, Civic Hospital for their professionalism and compassionate care in making our mother’s remaining time peaceful.
A visitation will take place at Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Avenue from 10:00-12:00 on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 followed by a private ceremony of close family and friends.