Stephen TomHon passed away peacefully on the morning of June 12th 2026 while in home hospice care just shy of his 91st birthday. He was born in Guangdong, China on June 16th 1935 to Chin Fong Tom 谭 傅晃 (father) and Fong Ho Tom Ng 谭吴 逢好 (mother).

During his early years in China, Stephen’s access to formal educational was limited. However, he did not allow this to limit him in his pursuit of his dreams and a better life. Stephen also learned through life’s lessons throughout his long and fruitful life. Through these lessons he gained valuable knowledge and insight that would allow him to establish a life for himself, his family, and generations to come.

The first major journey of his life took him to Trinidad where he arrived on September 2nd 1949 along with his younger brother Conrad. Can you imagine the wide-eyed wonders and risks that these two teenaged brothers took in crossing the Pacific and then the North American continent?

In Trinidad, he went to work for his older half-brothers (#4, #5, #8) to learn all the various aspects of shopkeeping along with the Queen’s English from newspapers in his spare time.

In the fall of 1959, his wife-to-be Ming Yin Cheung arrived from Hong Kong as arranged with her godmother. They were married on November 15th 1959 at the Parish of the Sacred Heart in La Brea, Trinidad.

Together, they opened their own shop and raised a family in Ste. Madeleine, a small village on the outskirts of San Fernando, Trinidad. Those youthful years passed filled with fun and shared memories with his brothers and their families, particularly cherishing the Saturday night Mah Jong sessions spilling into Sundays .

As events would unfold in Trinidad, shopkeeping became a tenuous profession and Stephen and Ming Yin made the difficult decision to leave their friends and family and move with their three young children (Maria, Peter, Cathy) to the USA. They arrived in September 1967 in Detroit, Michigan where Claver was born shortly thereafter.

It was there that he began the next chapter of his life learning to become a cook at Wing Hong restaurant in Southfield, Michigan. In 1980, Stephen and Ming Yin purchased China City Restaurant which they ran until they closed the doors in 1994. Not one to retire, Stephen continued to work at various restaurants including McDonald’s, Boston Market and Beans & Cornbread.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ming Yin TomHon (nee. Cheung) and his children: Maria (Jeff) Adams, Peter (Kelly) TomHon, Catherine (Robert Welte) TomHon and Claver (Maiko) TomHon along with six grandchildren: Michelle, Patrick, William, Emma, Chalita and Salinee.

As the 10th son, he was the last member of his generation of 11 brothers and 2 sisters to leave this life. He will be remembered for his perseverance to overcome and to flourish despite all the hardships that he encountered and for the wonderful life that he built for his children and generations to come.

Visitations and services will begin at 10:30am on June 22nd 2026 at the Manns Family Funeral Home located at 17000 Middlebelt Rd, Livonia, MI 48154 (telephone: 734-425-1800).

The family appreciates the outpouring of love and support during this time and welcomes you to join in this celebration of Stephen’s life.