Obituary
Service Information
Service : Tuesday, April 11th at 12:00 pm
Service Location: Graveside Service -Shalom Memorial Park
Interment:
Shalom Memorial Park
1700 W. Rand Road
Arlington Heights
Guest Book & Memories
Share your memories and photographs below.
April 13th, 2023
Uncle Irwin and I together made a toast to Uncle 2 with our Chivas Scotch Whiskey during his funeral reception a few months ago. It was our last ‘joint effort’,. That toast depicts on our longtime friendship and relationship,
Our ‘friendship’ was not deep because of the distance and times we were able to spend together. Yet, every time we met I found our conversations and interactions full of warmth and sincerity.
I would like to propose a toast to Uncle Irwin.
“To a fine, sincere and kind gentleman!”
~Lawrence Lo
~Nephew-in-law, Toronto, Canada
April 11th, 2023
It happened so suddenly that it is hard to believe. I didn’t have much communication with Uncle Irwin. But no doubts he is a very sincere and kind man. My longest stay with him was on a cruise. We had spent several days together. Drinking and chatting at dinner which had a lot of fun. It can only be found in our memory. He will be deeply missed.
~David Wong
~nephew, Hong Kong
~David Wong
~Nephew, Hong Kong
April 10th, 2023
We are all deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Uncle Irwin while he was about to start a boat trip in France, but at the same time we know he suffered no pain as he became unconscious. In Chinese belief, a speedy and peaceful deliverance is the result of a lifetime of kindness, good work, and loving care for family and friends. If there is anyone to bear out the ancient Chinese wisdom, Uncle Irwin is certainly a fine example.
Dear Uncle Irwin, while you might not be seeing the French landscape from your cabin window, you will savour its beauty all the more from your vantage point in the heavens. Our hearts all go out to Auntie Wendy at this time of bereavement, and I look forward to seeing her again before long, hopefully this summer.
~Peter Yue
~nephew, Hong Kong
April 10th, 2023
Uncle Irwin I will miss you, I will always enjoy our family trips to Chicago. Either by plane or long train rides with my older sister Debbie you would always meet us there. I always loved coming to Chicago as a child.
I will always cherish the trips you took us on to Florida and my first cruise as a troublesome 13 year old.
I will remember as an adult coming with my partner Rebecca to visit and you would worry about us going downtown on our own even as 30+ year olds haha to make sure we made it on the train or lending us your car to drive.
Thank you for doing a speech at our wedding, all my friends and family loved it and were shocked that I had a white uncle!
Penelope and Naomi will miss our facetime chats when you would pretend to sleep and they would yell “Wake up!!”
May you rest in peace Uncle Irwin
-Andew , Rebecca, Penelope, Naomi
~Andrew Ma
~Nephew, North York
April 10th, 2023
My father mentioned Disney World in one of the other posts – actually, I was too young at the time and grew up staring at those road trip photos with Elaine, Alan, Debbie, Bernice and Uncle Irwin and Aunt Wendy – very jealous that I missed out.
But there were also all the other memories and adventures throughout the years. He introduced Andrew and I to our first ever taste of video games (Colecovision!). Or there was also the road incident in China where our driver was stuck in a dispute, and where Uncle Irwin stepped out of the car with his powerful presence and quickly caused the other driver to flee. And when Eileen and I first moved to Singapore, it was a pleasure having Uncle Irwin and Aunt Wendy be one of our first visitors as they connected here on a cruise.
Eileen has only met Uncle Irwin a few times, but vividly remembers him for his warmth and friendliness and big smile. Thank you Uncle Irwin for a lifetime of memories and sharing with us your big heart!
Clement
~Clement Ma
~Nephew, Singapore
April 10th, 2023
Irwin will be missed by all of us, the most caring and generous man. May he rest in peace!
~Eleanor Cheng
~friend, Toronto, Canada
April 9th, 2023
I had the privilege of meeting Irwin a few times. Great guy!
~Charles Law
~friend, Toronto
April 9th, 2023
Irwin and I were always very close. In 1979, I helped arrange the wedding venue for him and my sister, Wendy, in Toronto. I had the honor of placing Wendy’s hand in his on the altar.
Irwin and Wendy were very loving and caring for my daughter, Bernice, and her peer cousins, treating them as if they were their own! The kids went to spend the summers with their
beloved Uncle Irwin in Chivargo while they were young and were driven to many fun places such as Disney World and the like. I am sure they will miss him for a long long time!
Winnie and I miss you too, Irwin!!!
Edmund Ma
Brother-in-law
Toronto
~Edmund Ma
~brother-in-law, Toronto
April 9th, 2023
My deepest heartfelt sympathy to Aunty Wendy at this very difficult time. Wish you comfort and strength in memories of Uncle Irwin and in the knowledge that others are missing him too, truly kind and generous and respected by us all, may Uncle Irwin rest in peace.
~Teresa Koo Burgess
~Niece, England
April 9th, 2023
So many memories. From declaring brownies baked with half the sugar by a niece as good (they were not!) to being renamed The Guy in the Basement to his love of travel, and the number of times his luggage didn’t make it to his shared love of all things Civil War with his brother. You will be very missed.
~Judy Levin
~Niece, Chicago, Illinois
April 8th, 2023
When I studied at Northwestern, I would occasionally spend weekends with uncle Irwin and aunt Wendy. Uncle Irwin was thoughtful and very hospitable. I remember spending several Thanksgivings with him and his family (with his brother Fred and his godson Jim). He will be missed.
~Michael Huang
~Grandnephew, Toronto, Ontario
April 8th, 2023
Uncle Irwin was a very kind and caring person, he spoke softly and had lots of patience.
He loved to eat dim sum.
He will be missed deeply.
~Teresa Mofun Wong and Pak Chi Leung
~Niece, Lafayette, CA
April 8th, 2023
Irwin was my favorite brother-in-law. I helped arrange the wedding ceremony for him and Wendy in 1979 in Toronto. I had the honor to place Wendy’s hand in his on
the alter.
He and Wendy were always so kind to my daughter, Bernice, and her peer cousins. The kids went to spend the summer with them for many years. and were driven to
Disney World and likes. I am sure all his nieces and nephews miss him terribly with so much fond memories of him!
Winnie and I miss you too, Irwin!!
~Edmund Ma
~brother-in-law, Toronto
April 8th, 2023
Uncle Irwin was generous and kind. I remember the first time I visited him and Wendy, I had to go to downtown Chicago to meet up with my husband, He was going to drop me off at the train station but saw that I looked nervous, he drove me all the way there despite his dislike of driving downtown. It was thoughtful of him and I will always remember his kindness.
~Pun wai Huang
~Niece, Toronto, Ontario
April 8th, 2023
At our father’s funeral last September, I asked uncle Irwin if he can say a few words at the service. His speech was touching and funny.
He was my father’s drinking buddy and they shared a lots of wonderful stories during the last forty years,
Uncle Irwin, may you rest in peace and my dad has a bottle of Chivas Regal waiting for you .
~simon ma
~Nephew, Toronto Canada
April 8th, 2023
In all the family gatherings, Uncle Irwin had always shown his patience with all the conversations around him in Chinese.
He was kind and generous during my visit in Chicago.
Thank you, Uncle Irwin , for being the drinking buddy for my father and giving a touching eulogy in his funeral.
You will be missed dearly.
~Jackie Lam
~Niece, Toronto
Guest Book and Memories
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