Marilyn Nancy Wong

This morning at her memory care facility in Acworth, Georgia, with Toby and Kelly at her side, Mom left this Earth to join Dad and Jesus in heaven. We are both sad and joyful for Mom at the same time. What an awesome woman Marilyn Wong was.

For those who don’t know already, Mom was diagnosed with Alzeheimer’s a year ago in December. Words cannot express the struggle over the last year, so I won’t even try. Suffice it to say, God has carried all of us through, and Mom is now in her new heavenly body whooping it up and loving people in heaven.

Mom always loved people and served them--all the time and everywhere, but particularly in the kitchen of her and Dad’s home in La Palma. Her cooking was always a comfort and a blessing to anyone who came over. In addition to her food, Mom was also a thoughtful and wise listener. How many of our friends sat at our kitchen table, pouring out their hearts and receiving love and wisdom in return? But it was her infectious laughter that I think people remember the most. Mom’s sense of humor was the thing that lifted us up and helped us gain perspective when things got dark. She was just so much fun to be around.

Mom was a homemaker for most of her married life, and a wonderful home did she make. She also served in many ways at our parents’ church home, New Life Community Church in Artesia, CA. Mom’s favorite ministry was Friendship Club, where she served as a teacher and leader for special needs adults. The “kids” there brought her so much joy. She and Dad also served in other ways that I’m sure I don’t even know.

Mom was loved and enjoyed wherever she went, and it’s been comforting to hear the staff at her memory care facility talk about how fun she was. They don’t know the half of it.

Toby and I consider ourselves beyond blessed to be Marilyn Wong’s kids, and we hope and pray to live up to her legacy. We already miss her greatly.

Mom would never say she was anything like “the Proverbs 31 woman,” but she really was:

“Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

‘Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all.’

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Honor for her all that her hands have done,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”