Mary June Fong

She passed peacefully at the age of 87 on Friday, February 12, 2016 in Sacramento, California surrounded by her family.

She was preceded in death by her older brother, Edwin, her step-mother Lily C. Chan, and her loving husband of 51 years, Russell Soone Fong. She is survived by five sisters, two brothers, five married children and their spouses, and 12 grandchildren.

While she was a young girl, her father Jack Chan moved the entire family to San Francisco. Mary attended Commodore Stockton Elementary School. Upon their return to Sacramento in 1939, Mary completed California Junior High and attended C.K. McClatchy High before graduating from Sacramento High School in 1945. She received a Business Administration Associated Arts Degree from Sacramento Junior College in 1948.

While growing up on W Street in mid-town Sacramento, Mary made many friends who would eventually become lifelong buddies. Beginning with the Chinese Church of Christ on N Street, to the present Chinese Community Church, Mary has always been an active member in the church’s many fellowship groups and activities.

When her father owned one of the first Chinese-owned grocery store chains, Palace Market on J Street, Mary worked for the downtown store as a skilled butcher and the bookkeeper until she was married.

She married Russell in 1952 and had five children: Randolph (Beverly), Matthew (Mei) , Thomas (Patricia) , Daniel (Patricia), and Joyceline (Matthew). Her 12 grandchildren are: Eric, Rachel, Christopher, Jailyn, Keith, Gregory, Grant, Nicole, Kyle, Jared, Rex and Vanessa.

Mary was employed with the State of California, working for the Department of Transportation, California Highway Patrol, and then retiring from EDD after twenty-one years of service.

Funeral services will be held at Harry A. Nauman and Sons, 4041 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento, California, on Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 11:00 am. A wake will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.

Memorial donations can be made to the Chinese Community Church, R.C.A., 5600 Gilgunn Way, Sacramento, California, 95822.

Arrangements under the care of Harry A Nauman & Son funeral home