On Friday, April 18, 2025, Chentsiau Hum passed away peacefully at the age of 96.

Chentsiau (Henry) Hum was born on August 16 (lunar calendar: 2nd day of the 7th moon), 1928 in Kaiping (Guangdong Province), China. He obtained his baccalaureate from Tsinghua University (Beijing, China) followed by a postgraduate degree in Agricultural Economics from Beijing’s Renmin University (People’s University of China). He was a lecturer at Peking University and at the Chinese University of Hong Kong until he immigrated with his family from Hong Kong to Canada in 1969. He joined his father and brother in Montreal to run the Henry Chop Suey Company until he fully retired and closed the company in 1996. 

Chentsiau was tireless in his efforts to preserve Chinese heritage and promote exchange with the Canadian society all his life. As the president of the Montreal Chinese Community United Centre, he lobbied the federal and provincial governments, as well as the Mayor of Montreal (Jean Drapeau) to raise funds in building the Plaza chinois (华人大楼) in 1983, a 9-storey apartment building offering low-cost housing units and cultural activities to the Montreal Chinese community. For his leadership and dedication to multiculturalism, he was honored with a Citation-for-Citizenship award by the Canadian Government in 1989.

Other than being a determined educator, entrepreneur and community leader, Chentsiau was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He passed away serenely in his sleep on Good Friday at the Montréal Chinese Hospital, where he and his wife resided for the last 3 years. He is survived by his wife of 71 years Bo-Wah Chuey; children Hing-For (Teresa Chan), Hing-Sang (Joyce Fung), Platina (Gilbert Wong), and Hillman (Connie Chau, div.); grandchildren Dean Wayne Hum, Danielle Theodora Hum, Matthew Hum, Rebecca Wong (Kim Vo), Rachel Wong (Kelvin Hung), Deirdre Wong, and Alexander Wong; as well as great grandchildren Evelyn Vo and Ambrose Hung.

Family will receive condolences on Sunday, May 18th, 2025 from 2 to 4 pm at Mount Royal Funeral Complex, 1297 chemin de la Forêt, Outremont, QC H2V 2P9. A memorial service will be held at 4 pm in the chapel of the complex followed by a reception from 5 to 7 pm. The interment will be held at an other date in private at the Mount Royal Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in the memory of Chentsiau Hum to:

Montreal Chinese Hospital Foundation 189 avenue Viger est, Montreal, QC H2X 3Y9. Tel : 514-871-0961 ext. 248  https://www.montrealchinesehospital.ca/donate.html