Deeply saddened by my dear mom's departure of her earthly life last December 4, 2023 but relieved her new eternal life in heaven has no sufferings. She was hospitalized since September 12, 2023. While believing in God's will, she gave a good fight for her life. Was still aware the afternoon before God called her on Dec 4 early morning. She last texted messages to me on Nov 30 about giving up treatment as she knew she could not get well. She was truly special.
Up to 101, she was mentally sharp, physically fit & socially engaged with her family, social media & church communities until her last 3 months.
She was born in Zhangzhou, China on Oct 27, 1922 to devout Christian parents Jin-Shui Chen, a successful shoe factory owner & Shu-Zhen Ji who lived to 100. In her adult life, she took care of dying parents-in-law Siong-Chuan Lim & Y Ping Yao, eldest son Eric Viola & husband Kok Su Yao who all predeceased her. She was a perfect mom and role model to me, my husband David and her 2 grandchildren Kyle and Steffi. She deserved my daily support and advocacy while she struggled in a hospital in Richmond Hill. She is also survived by a son Richard in Sweden. She is survived by her daughter-in -law Lourdes, widow of her late son Eric with 3 grandchildren Lisette, Leanne, and Ericson and 5 great grandchildren Ethan, Logan, Sienna, Avery and Evan. She is survived by an elder sister Cai-Yun in Shanghai and 2 younger sisters Cai-Yu and Cai-Hua in USA who kept close contact during her difficult journey. Four distinguished brothers Bo-Xiong Chen, Hong-Zhong Chen, Bo-Ling Chen, Hong-Xi Chen and an elder sister Cai-Luan Chen in China predeceased her.
She lived a peaceful, selfless, God-abiding life in 4 countries. Grew up in a well educated and God loving family in Zhangzhou & Xiamen in China from 1922, married in July 4, 1949, moved to Hongkong for 3 adventurous years en route to final Philippines destination to join her husband's new family with Christian upbringing and good education. Thank God my dad went to China and found her. She became the only one in her family to escape the onset of the newly installed harsh regime and the horrible "Cultural Revolution" in China. Though her family in China was prosperous before that, it was God's plan she got out and was able to help her family in a small financial way during that period of turmoil. While raising her family in Manila, she worked hard in my grandparents' successful import business located on Rosario St, a major business district. She naturally became a nourishing big sister to her 3 younger sisters-in-laws, Editha, Caridad & Jacinta, and 2 younger brothers-in-law, the late Ciriaco Yao & Qiuntin. She was a devoted teacher in Grace Christian High School and served as deacon/elder in Grace Christian Church. She felt great satisfaction as she volunteered for over a year translating a whole Hymnbook into Romanized Amoy for Grace Christian Church. She also managed her own small popular food related business. In 1991, she retired and moved to Toronto, Canada to support her late son Eric's family while he battled cancer. She connected with old friends and was easily loved by her new friends and community. In fact, she was still in touch with her high school best friend in China. In support of Dr. Paul Tan's book project, she and my late dad helped translate a book about the biblical character Job from English to Chinese. She said it was difficult but learned a lot from Job's lingering ordeals. Canada would become her final resting place. I am forever thankful of all her positive influences on me.
Thank you all who supported and prayed for her during her most difficult times on earth.
Special mentions to my aunt Caridad & aunt Jacinta in USA for constantly keeping in touch to offer prayers & emotional support, to cousin Mei-Juan for her health care insights, to brothers and sisters from CECC & CSFCC in Canada whom she dearly loved, to her friends and colleagues from GCHS & GCC in Philippines whom she cherished, and to her maiden Christian family roots in China which molded her into such a great person she was.