Colin Chan (Grandson)

Entered February 10, 2017 from Hong Kong

You will be sorely missed as your loving presence could be felt by the entire family. Your dedication to your children, grandchildren and greatgrandson will forever be an example to us all. You went above and beyond the role of a grandparent to me and I will always be grateful for your kindness, patience and love.

Chan, Mok Lam Alfred (Son in law)

Entered February 10, 2017 from Hong Kong

Your love and kindness will not leave me as you care so much of me whenever we spent our time together, either in Hong Kong or Canada, it will stay in my heart forever though you are now in a far away territory.

Lewis Wong (Son)

Entered February 10, 2017 from Canada

夜追憶…

慈 母卽 在 離
天 黑 夜 冰 趕 寒 路
孝 女 心力 瘁
敬 愛 呼 吸 絲 微 弱
兒 孫 伏 身旁
傷 心 欲 絕 苦 相 送
縱 有千般 痛
別 時 容 易 心 懷放
幾 番 狂 風 雪
此 情 此 處成 追 憶

Late Night Remembrance ...

Our kindest mom was fading away
Dashing through the dark cold icy road
Her dedicated daughter was totally exhausted
Our beloved was resting with silk weak breaths
Children and grandson by her side
Heartbroken sadness to say bye
Though she had gone through tremendous pain
Finally relax and let go
Several rough snowstorms
This moment had deeply carved into our memories

Janny Wong (close friends of her beloved daughter Georgina)

Entered February 10, 2017

May her kind soul rest in peace in the hands of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Georgina Wong (Daughter)

Entered February 10, 2017 from Canada

偉大的母親離去了! 原本打算照顧她直至康復出院, 卻換來與世長辞。病榻在床之情境瀝瀝在目, 揮之不去, 心痛致極!
還幸在陪伴她最後時光中, 她能安祥離去, 令我釋懷。我永遠懷念她。

My devoted mother has passed away, I was planning to nurse her back to health but things took a turn for the worse. I can never forget her moment of suffering in the hospital, which causes me heartbreak even now, I am grateful that I was able to be with her in her last moments so that she could leave this world in peace, I will never forget her and hope that my presence will erase some of the guilt of not being there for her in other occasions.

This story of mom is based on my own perspective. It is meant to be shared with the younger ones in our family who may not have a chance to hear it before.

Mom was born a village girl in Taishan (台山), Guangdong (廣東), China to the Ma family. Early in life, she lived with her family in Canton (廣州) for a period of time and had had some schooling there. Like many Cantonese of her generation, she had endured very hard times like lack of basic food and supplies and seeking refuge away from occupying troops during the Japanese invasion of China. After the war had ended, she was married to dad in her late teens through a relative matchmaker. For more than half a decade, dad went to work in Hong Kong for an uncle while she stayed with grandma in her ancestral home village living off a tiny piece of farm land. They saw each other only occasionally then.

When political turmoil broke out in China in the 50s, mom and grandma moved to Hong Kong to live with dad. I was born first followed by my brother and 2 sisters. The three adults worked hard to raise the four of us. Dad worked in uncle’s umbrella factory while mom took piece works home working long hours daily trying to make ends meet. Mom also took care of the four of us and the chores together with grandma’s help. A family of seven living in a small rented flat near uncle’s factory, sibling rivalry had always been a big headache for mom. She and grandma were always mediators to settle all disputes. Mom was always the one I seek protection when dad got angry. As we grew older, we realized everything mom and dad did were for our own good. It seemed mom’s only goal in life was to keep us well fed and educated.

Dad talked very little about his early life. Mom was the one who liked to tell me stories about dad. Dad was adopted by grandma’s family. Granddad went off to work in Cuba long time ago and never did return to China, so they knew nothing about him. One story that fascinated me most was dad’s participation during the war in fighting against the Japanese. He might have been a volunteered substitute for someone who had been conscripted to the army. At one time, he and another fellow fighter were captured by the Japanese but somehow managed to escape unharmed. Otherwise, we would not be here today.

When I was over here in Canada getting an education in the 70s, mom continued her life mission with dad to support the children and grandma. Mom looked after grandma until she passed away. She told me afterwards grandma missed me and were longing to see me nearing her death. I was unable to see her ever again which I regretted ever since whenever I thought about her.

Mom sent off her youngest daughter to get married in Ottawa through grand uncle’s matchmaking. I followed her footstep to Canada to search for new fortune and finally settled in Windsor. Mom and dad initially settled down in Ottawa. She continued to work for a few more years taking on a nanny job and cleaning offices before she retired. She and dad moved to Toronto to live closer to my brother. She looked after dad until his death in 2005. With the help of my brother, Mom managed to live independently despite her need to use a walker to get around for a number of years.

A year and a half ago, we decided to move her to our apartment in Richmond Hill for a better living environment. As I had already retired, I and my wife was able to spend more time living with mom. We cherished the time we had together during this period. We did not talk much but we appreciated the presence of each other.

Late last year, her medical condition required a surgical correction. We were led to believe the doctor would be able to complete a microsurgery and she would be out of the hospital in a week. Unfortunately, one complication after another followed the completion of the surgery. Mom fought hard for her life but eventually succumbed to her illness. We were deeply saddened by and felt sorry for the suffering she had gone through until the end. It was somewhat a relieve in knowing that she would be laid to rest in peace beside dad soon.