Obituary of Jerry Sun Chong Mah

January 24, 1934 – Pak Sha Chau, China

October 2, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Jerry Mah was reunited with his wife of 62 years, Eunice Mah, and his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at the age of 90.

Around the age of 14, Jerry’s brother shared with him about the good news of Jesus Christ loving him enough to die in his place in order to satisfy the death penalty that sin brought on us all. Having received the free gift of forgiveness, Jerry was baptized that Easter at the Dongshun Baptist Church.

At the age of 16, Jerry immigrated to Canada in 1950 with his mother and two brothers to escape the Chinese Communist Revolution in China. They joined his father, who had immigrated to Canada in 1914 and settled in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where he ran the Post Office Café with five partners. Knowing the importance of an education, Jerry and his brothers were encouraged to focus on their studies during the school year rather than work in the family business like most new immigrant children. Having to learn a new language and culture in a place where very few people looked like him was difficult, but Jerry persevered and graduated high school from the Prince Albert Collegiate Institute.

In the fall of 1958, Jerry moved to Calgary and started classes at the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art (PITA), which would later become the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). For the next two years, he lived in a room at the church mission of the Chinese United Church, now the location of Clover Living, and studied to be a chemistry technician.

As God’s plan for Jerry continued to unfold, his sister-in-law in Hong Kong sent him a letter in January 1959, to introduce him to a beautiful young lady named Eunice Shek Fong Choi, whom she had met the month before and thought would be a wonderful match for him. Jerry and Eunice became pen pals, writing to each other every two to four weeks. By August, Jerry knew this was the woman he wanted to spend his life with. Eunice felt the same way about Jerry but, being more cautious and realistic, wondered if and when this could become a reality. They had only exchanged pictures but had never met face-to-face or spoken to each other in real-time, Jerry was still in school, didn’t have a job, and the red tape and cost of immigrating to Canada was daunting.

In March 1960, with the help and blessing of his parents, Jerry applied for Eunice to enter Canada and paid the required $1,000 refundable deposit. They would have to be married within thirty days of arrival or else the deposit would be forfeited and used to send Eunice back to Hong Kong. On April 9, 1960, Jerry and Eunice were long-distanced engaged and on April 16, Eunice’s application to enter Canada was approved, something that normally took at least three months. On July 21, 1960, Jerry and Eunice met face-to-face for the first time after Eunice’s 19-day steamship and train journey from Hong Kong to Vancouver, BC, and on July 30, 1960, Jerry and Eunice embarked on a 62-year adventure together.

Upon graduation from PITA, Jerry started working as a quality control technician at Calgary Packers on June 6, 1960. Jerry then joined Imperial Oil Limited (Esso Canada) in 1963 and worked in their research laboratory for the next 28 years until his retirement in 1991.

Together, Jerry and Eunice left their imprint on many lives as they welcomed students, couples, and families into their home for meals and conversations. They were both active members of the Calgary Chinese Alliance Church and Jerry served as an elder for many decades.

Jerry loved his family fiercely. He and Eunice enjoyed taking the family on day trips for hikes and picnics in the mountains. In retirement, they would travel to Asia, Europe, the United States, and Edmonton, to spend time with their kids and grandkids.

Jerry believed and tried to fix anything and everything that was broken or not working as well as it should. That can-do attitude was passed down to several of his kids and grandkids.

When Eunice was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in 2013, Jerry lovingly and faithfully cared for her. He meticulously cooked, ground up, and froze food in ice cube trays to be as efficient as possible to ensure she received the necessary sustenance to fully live another nine years.

In what we now know was Jerry’s farewell tour, he enjoyed going on a seven-day cruise this past summer with his kids and most of his grandkids. He was also able to travel to Cancun, Mexico, for the first time.

Among those who will miss and cherish the life and memory of Jerry are his four children, Ruth (Hans) Fung of Almaty, Kazakhstan, Tim (Peggy) Mah of Calgary, AB, Sharon (Freeman) Wong of Edmonton, AB, and Andy (Robyn) Mah of Piscataway, NJ; as well as his eight grandchildren, Ben (Marissa) Fung of Bridgewater, VA, Evan Fung of Calgary, AB, Matthew (Miley) Fung of Hong Kong, Nicolle, Tyler, and Dylan Mah of Calgary, AB, Joshua (Hannah) Mah of Lexington Park, VA, and Jadyn Mah of Piscataway, NJ.

Jerry was predeceased by his parents, sister, and three brothers.

Funeral Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street N, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6) on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Jerry’s family here.

In living memory of Jerry Mah, 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: 403-276-2296.