We are saddened to announce the passing of Dr. Hwee Lim on May 5, 2026, following a sudden fall and brief hospitalization, with her daughters by her side.
Hwee was born on April 26, 1942, in Sitiawan, Malaysia, the second of four children to How Ying Yeow and Joo Phuan Lim. She is survived by her daughters, Kristine (Jason) and Allison (Allen); her granddaughters, Alyx, Alyana, and Alyssa; her siblings, Jing, Hoong, and Ping (“Nick”); and her nieces, Jin, Qianyi, and Xinyi.
After high school, Hwee travelled to Taipei, Taiwan, where she earned a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from National Taiwan University in 1969. She then immigrated to Canada, where she completed a Master of Science in Pathology in 1971 and a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1974 at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. After a brief stint in Edmonton, Alberta she moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she worked at the REACH Community Health Centre before establishing her own practice on King George Highway in Surrey. There, she and her longtime assistant, Pat, cared for generations of patients and formed many enduring friendships.
After retiring in 2005, Hwee devoted more time to her lifelong passion for writing. She was pleased that her work was published in Ming Pao, The Vancouver Sun, and The Globe and Mail, and she filled countless journals in both Chinese and English throughout her life. She was also an avid reader with a particular appreciation for the classics. Other pastimes included tutoring in the Faculty of Dentistry at UBC, volunteering at non-profit dental clinics, serving as president and board member of the Chinese Canadian Dental Society, singing with the Morning Star Singers, and supporting her beloved Liberal Party of Canada.
Hwee is aptly described as a live wire — feisty, outspoken, and always the life of the party. In her memory, please raise a glass and enjoy a sip of wine (or more — she certainly would have).
In lieu of flowers, and in keeping with Hwee’s wishes, donations may be made to the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE).
A celebration of life will be held in late summer, with details to follow.
May 29th, 2026
Dear Kristine and Allison,
Lee, my wife, and I were shocked and saddened by Hwee's passing. Your Dad broke the news to us just before we started a 2-week road trip from our home in California to Vancouver. We had planned to surprise your Mom and Dad but we missed the opportunity to see her. We did spend a heart-warming day with your Dad.
The last time that we got together with your Mom was 2013. We invited both of them to visit us in California. Your Mom was retired but your Dad was too busy with his practice and couldn't join us. The last time that we saw him in person was 2009. This is a photo album that I put together:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tGvvzTDi4XHwzkRN6
Most of the photos came from Hwee's visit in 2013. We spent some time in our home in Mountain View and moved on to our vacation home in Lake Tahoe. We gave her a grand tour of the Old West. As it turned out, she was a great fan of Mark Twain who started his career as a reporter in this area. She was delighted to visit his old workplaces. Here is some background info from Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/share/b000b60051ca
As you know well, your Mom enjoyed reading and writing. Unlike most of my Chinese friends in our generation who habitually read and write in Chinese during their leisure time, your Mom was truly bi-cultural. She enjoyed English literature as much as Chinese literature. She wrote well in both languages in a witty style similar to Mark Twain's. It makes sense that she looked up to him.
In 1974, I was starting my first job as a junior engineer in the oil fields near Pigeon Lake, about 50km from Edmonton. I met your Mom and Dad at a colleague's house party in Edmonton. I had a bad case of gum disease that I couldn't afford to fix while going through graduate school at UBC. Hwee assured me that she could fix it. That she did. I'm now 75 and still have all my teeth. The procedure was a bit painful. Hwee and Sen invited me to their apartment and prepared a meal of porridge for my sore gums. I'm forever grateful to their kindness. We had a lot to talk about. I grew up in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia; went to college in California where I met my wife Lee. Hwee grew up in the same suburb as mine during my high school years, Petaling Jaya. Sen's high school in Singapore was a rival of mine in my junior high year. We became friends and managed to stay in touch after 5 decades.
Thank you so much for sharing your tribute to your Mom. We miss her.
With love, Mung & Lee
May 22nd, 2026
May 22nd, 2026
With our deepest condolences to Kristine and Allison and family that your mom had rested in peace with our dear Lord. May God bless and comfort both of you and your your family. I enjoyed to receive and read our dearest Hwee 親愛奶奶's articles published in Ming Pao which gave me a chance to know and understand her more since we were not in the same city. In June 2022 when I stayed at her place we prayed together and she had accepted Jesus Christ as her saviour. I miss her laughters, sweet smiles, love and outspoken talks. One day we will be meeting in heaven again. Let us raise a glass and enjoy a sip of sweet red wine as sweet as her!
May 22nd, 2026
My deep condolences to Hwee’s family and friends on her sudden passing and this tremendous loss to our community. During the past 30 yrs I felt a special connection to Hwee through our shared passion for public service and value her insights, candour, humour, and zest for life. I will miss our stimulating chats and treasure her poetic discourse and idealism: “keep on sojourning… l deeply admire those with tenacity and continue to fight for what they believe.” RIP Hwee my dear friend.
May 21st, 2026
I cannot believe the news when I received this email. For weeks I had wanted to get together with Hwee as it was our custom to meet about once a month over dim sum at the Golden Ocean Restaurant in Kerrisdale. Now I can only see her in my memory of the good times we had, sharing our lives over our favourite food. We had met in Kingston Ontario close to 50 years ago. Hwee impressed me with her intelligence and high achievement. We lost touch for many years and were reconnected in 2012 when I moved to Vancouver. Since then, our conversation topic has always revolved around Bible passages and current world events. The last time I visited her was in March of this year and she was in her kitchen with her Bible open on the dining table. She has found the way to eternal life, and I am going to see her again there.
Mabel Chau
May 19th, 2026
The class of 74 at Western faculty of dentistry had 2 ladies in it Hwee and Lynda fond memories in a male dominated class .I remember Hwee as a focused gentle person who worked along side of us diligently. We all can see from what she accomplished in her life was for the betterment of family friends students and her patients. My condolences to you and your family.
May 18th, 2026
Dear Hwee, I am planning to visit you in 2027, but too late. You left us in the dark, but follow the light into the heaven. I missed you. I met you in an oral pathology lecture in Dentistry of UBC in 2010. You are warm, kind, and smart, just like sunshine. We were talking and laughing in your cozy apartment, such lovely days for us in that four years. The annually brief message between us hold lots of good memory in the past 14-year. Too late to say "good bye", too late so say "how are you?" in the front of you. Best on your way, Best in your second life. Yang
May 18th, 2026
I knew your mother fairly well as a classmate. She wasn’t with us the whole 4 years because she was there for accreditation only I do believe. It sounds as if your mom had a very satisfying career ! Like many of us, she developed her character as a “live wire”after graduation, when all the hard work was done.We lost a lot of classmates in the last 2 months. My condolences to your family.
May 18th, 2026
Hwee, you are deeply missed! I treasure the beautiful memories of our time together in Morning Star Singers, and the countless hours we spent talking on the phone.
Through the years, you became my mentor, counsellor, and trusted friend in every aspect of my life. Your wisdom, talent, knowledge, and wonderful sense of humour were a blessing and an inspiration to many.
Thank you for your friendship and the joy you brought into our lives. You will always hold a special place in my heart.
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