Memory and a Final Note to My Dear Gar Jaer

Dear Gar Jaer,

It has been difficult for me to accept that you have left us in this world.  I have been denying it and looking to wake up to find that it was a bad dream.  However, it is only a few hours away when we shall have to say our final good-bye and see you on your final journey.  

I have kept myself busy and held back my tears until my flight last night from Charlotte (NC) to Toronto.  The tears just swelled and rushed out in drops onto my lap.

Since mom’s passing 13 years ago, you have been such an anchor among our siblings.  It is difficult for me to imagine coming to Toronto again and having a family dinner without your physical presence.

When we were in primary school in Sai Yee Street, you slept on the top bunk of our triple-bunk bed.  You would pretend to be the Hollywood stars of the day: Ava Gardner, Janet Lee, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, etc. from the top bunk and we would cheer you from the bed of mom and dad below.  You even gave us towels to put on so that we could be stars too.

Shortly after dad became sick in 1960, you graduated from high school and took a job as a roof-top primary school teacher and handed all your earnings to mom so that we could have food on the table.  Your generosity and sacrifice allowed Christina, Richard and me to stay in school.

I could only remember how proud you were when you and Jaer Fu bought the first condo of your own.  It was a 400 ft2 condo on Waterloo Street.  Besides the shared corridor and landing, bathroom and the kitchen, you subdivided the remainder of the 400 ft2 into two bedrooms and a sitting room.  You had to order specially built beds to fit into the small rooms.

You made many courageous decisions.  I could only imagine how difficult it was for you to send Edmund, your only son, all the way to Toronto to attend highschool under the watch of mom and Richard.  It must have been even more challenging when you and Jaer Fu gave up your lucrative and stable jobs in Hong Kong to move to Canada.  You demonstrated decisiveness and a nerve of steel.  You gave up your own comfort to secure better futures for your siblings and your own family.

You have succeeded beyond any reasonable expectations when those decisions were made.  Christina, Richard and I all graduated from universities and have built happy families of our own.  You have also nurtured a happy growing family of your own.  You must have been proud of the accomplishments of Edmund and the addition of Jana, Nathan and Emerson to your growing family.

I knew that we had to face these good-byes among us some day but I have always been greedy in the hope that we could enjoy each other’s company for many more years.  Thank you for what you have sacrificed so willingly for our benefits.  Your smiles, your sincere concerns of our well being, your goodwill towards others, your courage to face challenges and your nerve of steel to make difficult decisions will always be in my memory.  I shall miss you.

Good-bye.   May your soul rest in peace.

David, your brother for ever.

Our deepest condolences to you and the family

Feb 14 2011
Aunt Johanna is going to meet my mother in Heaven.
Nephew

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Edmund and Jana,
Our deepest condolences to you and the family on the passing of your mother/in-law.  May her loving memories give you strength at this most difficult time. If there is anything we can do, please let us know.

Jenny and Gary Jung

OBITUARIO

Johanna Shew Yee Wong

23 diciembre, 1942 – 11 febrero, 2011

Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes

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