With deep sorrow, the family of Ark Baw Jang, announce his peaceful passing at the Royal Jubilee Hospital on Friday, April 25, 2025, at the age of 91. Predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Betty (nee Mar), parents Sack Woot and Toy Hong Lam Jang, parent in-laws, Tim Sing and Gim Hoy Frances Mar, brother in-laws, Bill, Whaley and Doug Mar, sister in-laws, Gertrude, Lily and Beverly (Beal) Mar. Survived by his four children, Marilyn, Wendy, Arthur (Cecil) and Douglas Jang, sister, Choi Kuen Chow, brother in-laws, Jack and Jim Mar, sister in-laws, Violet and Patricia Mar, nieces Susan Lum and Jenny Mar, nephews Joshua (Sandra) Chan and Nicky Mar, grand-nieces Katherine (Anthony) Chung and Yvonne (Kurt) Westergren, grand-nephews Sheldon Lum, Jonathan (Hyacinth Dyogi) Chan and Christopher (Naina Boveja) Chan, great nieces Ava and Greta Westergren and Liana Chan, great nephews Jack Westergren and Declan Chan and Logan and Karter Boveja-Chan plus many other extended family members.
Ark was born in the village of Dung Been Sa, Taishan (Sin Ning) in Canton Province, China on May 17, 1933. His family left mainland China in the late 1940’s and moved to Hong Kong, where he apprenticed as a tailor, a skill he would use throughout the rest of his life. In 1951, Ark immigrated to Victoria, BC, to join his father, Sack Woot. Ark worked in a number of restaurant jobs and met the love of his life, Betty, in 1953, while both were employed at the Glen Coffee Shop. Ark and Betty married on July 12, 1958, and moved into their first house on Mortimer Street. Ark became one of the earliest employees of the BC Ferries in the early 1960’s and in 1962, now with a growing family of two daughters, Ark and Betty along with his parents relocated to a four-acre farm on San Juan Avenue in Gordon Head, where they grew potatoes and other vegetables. In 1968, Ark and his two partners opened their first restaurant, The Peacock Restaurant, on Government Street. Now with the addition of two sons, Ark and Betty and children moved to the Blenkinsop Valley in 1972. Ark and his partners also relocated their restaurant to Sidney, BC, in 1972, and operated this business until they retired in December 1991. In retirement, Ark and Betty devoted their time to full-time hobby farming. During his leisure time, Ark would watch hockey, curling, soccer and baseball as well as Chinese language movies and programs. He loved to cook and used his cooking skills in the kitchen to prepare many memorable meals for family, which he called “Cooking for An Army”. Ark and Betty, along with their two sons and his two sister in-laws went on a three-week tour of China in September 1997, which included a visit to his ancestral village, that he had not seen for forty-six years. Due to declining health, Ark moved for a final time to the Heights at Mt. View in May 2022, where he spent his remaining years.
The family would like to thank the staff of 3rd Floor Carr West at the Heights at Mt. View for the care they provided to Ark during his time there.
Dad, we will love you, treasure you and miss you for the rest of our lives, but you will never be forgotten and will remain in our hearts forever. Until we meet again, rest in peace.
Funeral service to be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC, on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 10:00 am, with Rev. Dr. Gwen Lam officiating, followed by graveside internment and reception.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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