Yolanda Yeung and Guillem CoPalle (Grand-daughter & grandson-in-law)

Entered November 21, 2020 from Winnipeg, Manitoba

Dearest Nai-Nai,

Although i was very young and don’t remember much, i do remember when you and Yea-Yea used to live in halifax and take me to parks and such. I remember you buying me ice-cream or fries from McDonald’s. My mom didn’t approve but just like any grandparent, you went ahead to spoil me anyways!

Also, i thank you and yea-yea for teaching me cantonese. It was the first and only language i knew up until the age of 5. I think if you had lived with us for longer in Halifax, i would have been more fluent to this day. My vocabulary is quite limited, but i am able to understand the main concept of the message. Thank you!

We will truly miss you, but glad you are able to be with Yea-Yea in heaven.

I remember when we were kids, we were such little rascals that often running around in the small apartment we lived in. It was kind of dangerous that we could knock things down or bang on furniture and get hurt. Mom asked and even yelled at us to stop but of course, without much success. She tried to scare us by swung around a stick (雞毛掃) and hit on the table to make noises in attempt to scare us. Well, it worked a few times at the beginning but then we gradually knew that she wouldn’t really hit us. We became so custom to it and weren’t scared a bit. Finally, at the later days, we became so fearless that we even grabbed the stick off her hand and ran off. Oh, was she ever steamy mad :-). Mom was such a gentle and loving person. She would never hurt us in any way…. I love you, Mom.

A story I would like to share is when Mom first moved to Yee Hong and it was my first time visiting Mom and Dad at Yee Hong but I didn't tell them ahead of time I was visiting that day. Mom watching a show in the common living room outside their room while Dad was in the bedroom. As soon as Mom saw me she started to smile and then laugh, and ran over to greet me, and started telling her friends I was her son. She was very proud to introduce me to her friends. That image of first encountering at Yee Hong left me with tears and I could still remember that moment which will stay with me in my heart for the rest of my life. Mom is a great mom, her love for his children is so genuine and unconditional. I love you and miss you Mom...

Ni Ni is a gentle and passive lady. There was a fun & playful side of her too. One could heard her unique giggles while joking with her sons.
She cooked simple yet delicious meals. Her famous dish was steam custard which I still couldn’t do it right. Instead I have passed on her beef in tomato sauce to our next generation.
She would patiently played “ house” with Yolanda for hours next to the unlighted fireplace during the year she spent time with us.
One year we missed calling her on her birthday ( lunar calendar) ; that was because Giselle was born that day.
She belief in me when no one did. May her spirit live within us and forever. Seeding the life cycle . May she RIP

I have many fond memories as snapshots in time of a joyful woman. The moment when she and grandpa were baptized in Ottawa. The picture of laughter when she laughed at the knife stuck in our turkey at dinner in London. How she magically had the muscle memory to beat me repeatedly in games of Mahjong (and yes, I know I am not good at it). How she loved her sweets and fried food.

One particularly funny moment was the first time I brought her from Yee Hong out to a restaurant. When Lily and I brought her to the buffet line, her preferences were clear. Piling on the golden, the crunchy, the sweet, the saucy food. When I carefully and persistently motioned towards the vegetables, I was told they were too hard, they must be undercooked. This judgement was made without touching the food.

Rest in peace Grandma.

Nai-Nai, was a lighthearted, gentle, and joyful grandmother. I’m grateful for the holidays spent visiting the grandparents, exploring Canada, and enjoying dim sum together. Although we had a bit of a language barrier, I’ll miss all the adorable phone calls we had where you’d always tell me how proud you were, no matter what the case. The dedication, care, and endless love shown by my Father Pollen and Uncle Mill is a reflection of the beautiful and positive human she was.

Praying you are in a wonderful place of happiness with Grandpa.

Giselle