Obituary of Sing Mah

Mr. Sing Mah of Camrose passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at the age of 86 years. Sing Yuen Kim Mah was born in Hoi Sun Bak Sa (known as Baisha today) in the Taishan, Guangdong province of China in 1928. He was the adopted son of Mah York and Wong You Gam. At the age of 21 he married Woo Guey Gee in China. Their first child Mei Lai was born in China in 1949. The family moved to Hong Kong in 1951 following the communist takeover of China. Sing worked as a barber in Hong Kong. Their second daughter Mei Sui was born in 1952. Sing and Gee had seven more children in Camrose, Alberta from 1956 to 1970. On April 6, 1952 Sing emigrated to Camrose to join his father Mah York. York, one of many immigrants who worked on building the Canadian Pacific Railway, owned the York Café. Sing worked with his father until 1955 and became part owner in 1957. Together with his cousin Don Wing, he opened another café, the Jubilee Lunch in 1960, later to be owned by Don. By 1964 Sing sold his interests in the York Café and became sole owner of the Rose Grill Cafe until his retirement in 1988. Sing and his chief cook, Tony Mah, were great chefs, known for their delicious Chinese food, in particular, sweet and sour spareribs, as well as homemade pies and soups. Sing loved to cook and would host many banquets for his family and friends throughout the years. He is survived by his wife, Gee; and nine children, Mei Lai (Douglas), Mei Sui (Raymond), Mahala (Sam), Ken (Lee Ann), Lillian (Remy), David (Fhranz), Peter (Catherine), Joe (Pat) and Angela (Jose); fifteen grandchildren; and one great-grand daughter. He is also survived by two brothers one in China and the other in the USA, and many nieces and nephews. Sing was an enormously wealthy man. Not of money but of a large devoted family and many friends who respected him, admired him and loved him dearly. He was an intelligent man of great ability and of even greater kindness and generosity. Funeral Services were held on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 1:00 p.m., from Messiah Lutheran Church with Rev. Greg Kjos officiating. Cremation will take place following the service. Inurnment will take place in the Camrose Cemetery at a later date. If friends so desire memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.