Margaret Yuu Wong

WONG, Margaret Yuu, of Brookline, age 95, passed away peacefully from natural causes on Sunday, February 12, 2023. Devoted wife of the late Shu Ying (David) Wong who predeceased her in 2010. Younger daughter of the late Yee W. and late Lee Shee Yuu. Sister of Gem Feng Yu, Allen Yuu, Joseph Yuu, and Kenneth Yuu who all predeceased her, and is survived by her brother, Sun Mok Yu, of Toronto.

She was adored by her seven children: Karyn Wong Ching (spouse of Kin Lok Ching), the late Sharyn Wong-Chan (spouse of Stephen Chan), Wilson Wong (spouse of Linda Santosa Wong), the late Warren Wong (spouse of Susan Wong), Winston Wong (spouse of Agnes Wong), Marilyn Wong (spouse of George Wong), and Wayne Wong (spouse of Mandy Wong). Also, she was a loving grandmother to fifteen grandchildren: Karl and Kevin Ching; Eric and Stephanie Chan; Suzanne and Jennifer Wong; Jason, Jonathan, and Andrea Wong; Christopher and Adam Wong; Andrew Wong; and Jessica, Ashley, and Emily Wong. She was a cherished great-grandmother to twelve great-grandchildren, and a beloved Aunt Margaret to countless nieces and nephews.

Although Margaret was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, as an infant she and her mother returned to China and lived there until she completed high school. When she returned to the U.S. in her early twenties, she worked at her family’s traditional hand laundry in Lynn. Shortly thereafter, she met her late husband, David, and they married in 1950. It wasn’t until the 1990s that Margaret was able to return to her home village in Toisan, China, with two of her brothers.

During the Korean War, David and Margaret crossed the country on the transcontinental railroad to operate a chicken egg farm in Anaheim, California. Eventually they moved back to Brookline, Massachusetts. Margaret lived for her family – she was a lifelong homemaker who worked tirelessly to care for those around her. Living in a house with three generations, she cared for her in-laws and raised seven children with much help from David’s sisters, the late Kathleen Chin and Irene Gan. Margaret even made time to help with the family’s grocery store and restaurants by organizing bills and preparing food.

Margaret was known for celebrating Chinese holidays by preparing special foods, such as zhongzi (glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves), delicious herbal soups, and many varieties of dumplings. She was also a lifelong learner and was dedicated to learning English. She attended several ESL classes, listened to ESL cassette tapes in the kitchen, and her favorite book was a well-worn Chinese-English dictionary. Even in her 90s, while attending the Greater Boston Golden Age Center’s Brighton House, her favorite activity was participating in English lessons, along with socializing with friends, Chinese folk singing, exercise classes, and reading the Chinese newspaper.

She will be deeply missed by all of her family and friends. There will be a celebration of her life in J.S. Waterman Langone Chapel, 580 Commercial St, Boston, on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Family will receive friends and relatives for visitation from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, followed by a brief service and a procession to Forest Hills Cemetery. Valet parking is available. Please join the family at Joyful Garden Restaurant (550 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA) following the interment.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in loving remembrance of Margaret Yuu Wong may be made to the Greater Boston Golden Age Center Brighton House (https://www.gbcgac.org/help-us, Attn: Lili Mei, 677 Cambridge St, Brighton, MA 02135) or Kwong Kow Chinese School (https://www.kwongkowschool.org/donate, 87 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111).