We met Auntie Jane about 5 years ago when we moved into her building and became neighbors. I love how generous she was, sharing dark chocolate, tea and and other goodies with us. Almost everyday when the mail came, she would sort it and leave at each apartment's doorstep. I was so impressed with how easily she would go up and down 3 flights of stairs at 90+ years old!
She was friendly and liked chatting in the hallway and meeting new people, never missing an opportunity to smile and say hi when our family and friends would visit. 
I think my favorite memory is Auntie Jane at a 4th of July barbecue that we hosted, mixing and mingling with our friends, trying the food, and generally having a great time. 
Her loving and generous spirit is very missed in the building.

As one of the kids in the youngest generation, I only got to see Aunty Jane at family gatherings. She'd always ask, with a warm smile, how I was doing when I walked up to greet her.  Of all the fond memories I have of her, one stands out above the rest. She called on the phone one day, asking about what she'd have to do to take care of a pet frog. I still remember how curious Aunty Jane was when asking me all those questions. At the time, I was no frog aficionado myself, so I just told her what I remembered my dad saying about taking care of pet fish. What stuck with me (and what I will always take to heart) is her excitement and eagerness. Thank you Aunty Jane, for teaching me that even though you grow up over time, you never have to give up your youthful joy and enthusiasm.

Auntie Jane had an indelible influence on me and I will forever be grateful. She loved having family around and was always interested in hearing about what we were up to. She had photos of loved ones neatly displayed in her cabinet and always warmly welcomed us into her home. “What’s new with you, kids?”, Auntie Jane would enthusiastically ask. No matter how big or small our endeavors, she was curious to learn more and to cheer us on. There was absolutely nothing that we couldn’t accomplish, in Auntie Jane’s eyes. 

Perhaps the biggest impact Auntie Jane had on me is in inspiring my interest in arts and crafts. She made lots of wonderful stuffed dolls and knitted creations and always encouraged me to enter drawing contests, taping up my contest entries in her hallway. 
I will always remember all the support she gave me as I was growing up. Auntie Jane would often drop by Auntie May’s place after my sister and I got off school and help me out with homework assignments from my spelling book. She would also regularly ask us for the latest book order forms so that she could purchase various computer games and help us meet the order minimum needed for us to get a free horse or kitten poster from her order. She also knew we loved receiving mail and would be bored during the summer break, so she ordered some summer reading subscriptions for us to keep us busy. 


She was one of the BIGGEST and best cheerleaders one could ask for. For example, during middle school, I had to do a lot of drawings for science class assignments. I didn’t care to keep the homework that was returned to me, especially if I didn’t get good grade on it, but Auntie Jane would always tell me I did a great job and asked to keep these projects. Many years later, she returned these homework assignments to me so that I could see the work I did as a kid. Also while in high school, I took a ceramics class and created a piece with a handle that ended up breaking off. I was disappointed in how it turned out, but again, Auntie Jane said it I did a nice job and said she asked to keep it. She displayed in her cabinet all these years!

Auntie Jane was a very cool auntie. She let us refer to her as “AJ” and was into clean healthy eating many years before it was popular to do so, espousing the health benefits of green tea, dark chocolate, and garlic. One of her hamsters was named Frisky. She introduced me to AOL and the world wide web, letting me sign on with her computer. She was also very persistent. She was always trying to get me to allow her to Flowbee my hair, telling me that she could help me save money instead of me going to the salon.  And of course, who could forget the family holiday parties! She would decorate her home for each holiday, complete with themed tablecloths, banners, and centerpieces. One of the highlights of these parties were the epic BINGO games. Everyone would fight over the creations that she and Auntie May made as prizes.Thanks, Auntie Jane for so many years of cherished memories and everything that you did for us.

During a recent phone conversation, I mentioned that I purchased a sewing machine to learn how to sew face masks and AJ asked if I was making masks as part of a contest. My sister and I laughingly answered no, that there were no mask making contests. However, curiously that same evening, I saw an online call for entries for a face mask contest! My sister and I decided to participate since it was as if the power of AJ’s suggestion made it real. It was a fun and engaging effort to make the face mask. Thank you, AJ!

I have many fond memories of Auntie Jane, aka AJ, that I would like to share. For example, when I was a kid, I looked forward to the treat of being able to visit Auntie Jane’s place to play computer games after I finished my homework. There was a computer game involving Robin Hood that I remember vividly probably because it was so hard to progress through it. If I got stuck at a particular level, AJ had a clue book handy to advise me of whether my next step should have been anything from participating in the archery competition to looking under the tapestry. In the springtime, I remember the Easter basket with jelly beans and mini bunny toys that AJ gifted my sister and me.

The holidays were an especially cozy time with warm memories of celebrations at Auntie Jane’s place. The twinkling Christmas tree with red heart ornaments greeted us as we entered her festively decorated apartment. If we were lucky, we would see “Lil bit” the hamster at the foot of the Christmas tree. At the head of the potluck line were Auntie Jane’s signature baggies of yummy Spritz butter cookies and neatly organized rows of homemade bread in various flavors including garlic, raisin, and plain. In addition, Auntie Jane made a delicious carrot soup full of plenty of garlic. AJ was a big garlic fan and liked to eat it raw for health benefits. Her pro tip was to hide the raw garlic in a banana to make it more palatable. She was also a fan of dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa. Whenever we visited, she would offer us Ghirardelli dark chocolate squares.

Auntie Jane could also be endearingly feisty. I remember that she asked where her postcard was after we got back from vacation. Note: We did send a postcard, but it was delivered late due to slow postal service of the country we visited.

In addition, Auntie Jane always encouraged creative pursuits. Thank you, AJ! <3

OBITUARY

Ms. Jane W Tong

5 February, 1924 – 13 July, 2020

San Francisco Columbarium & Funeral Home

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