Genevieve (Chinese name Tri-An) led a remarkable life that had elements of a Hollywood movie script. She was born in China on August 28, 1925 to Law Sam Lee (father) and Mei Lei Lee (mother), the same year as the outbreak of Civil War in China between Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party. At age 4, Genevieve left war torn China with her mother and they landed in Paris, France, by themselves and with few assets.
She started school in Paris knowing no French, and attended school in second hand clothes. But she quickly mastered the French language and became a top student, earning medals for being first in her cohort. Her teachers became her mentors, and Genevieve (the French name given to her when she first enrolled and the patron saint of Paris) flourished in the academic environment of her school in the Latin Quarter.
Genevieve became close friends with a number of her classmates, but three sisters would remain lifelong friends throughout the years and into this decade. With the outbreak of World War II, Genevieve had to drop out of school to support her mother and sister, Denise. With the help of one of her teachers, and through a series of fortunate twists and turns, Genevieve obtained a position in Cogit, a medical equipment store. During the war, Genevieve stood on ration lines, described eating a diet of potatoes at times, and the generosity of her French friends who shared some of their food with this Chinese family. There were also stories of the French Resistance, people she knew who died, or were executed, or were sent to the German labor camps, listening to BBC radio to relay coded messages to the Resistance (punishable by death), and various subterfuges to undermine the German soldiers’ morale.
At the invitation of the mother of one of her friends, Genevieve was persuaded to attend the Liberation of Paris parade in late August, 1944 in which US Army troops marched down the Champs-Elysees. Who could have predicted, among the throngs of people at the parade, that a Chinese woman living in Paris would meet an American soldier who was also Chinese? But it happened. Albert Hom and Genevieve fell in love, and Genevieve started a new chapter of her life as a World War II war bride in Rockville Centre, New York. She again had to learn a new language, English.
Two children arrived, Lorraine (named after the French Cross of Lorraine) and David. The family moved to West Hempstead, New York where Albert and Genevieve owned and operated a laundromat and made life-long friends with good neighbors. There were many shared experiences of going to the beach at Point Lookout, barbeques, picnics, sitting on the porch of the house, family and friends get togethers, many happy times, and lots of good food (Chinese and French)! Genevieve was a terrific cook and how lucky we were to have the benefit of two world-class cuisines!
Although she was a busy wife and mother, Genevieve decided she had to return to school. While continuing to work in the laundromat, she first obtained her GED (her two-year college equivalent lycée degree from France was not recognized for equivalency in the US at that time), and then continued to evening classes at Nassau Community College. She transferred her credits to Hunter College and earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Hunter, all through evening classes. She obtained a teaching position in the New York City school system, initially as a French teacher in I.S.59 (intermediate or middle school) in Springfield Gardens, Queens, and then as a dual French and Spanish teacher.
As their lives transitioned, Albert and Genevieve connected with the Long Island Chinese Center, and also participated in a regular Chinese dinner group, among other social activities. They also traveled. Over the years, Genevieve made many trips back to France to visit a country and those who had made such an impact on her life. After Albert passed away in 1979, Genevieve moved to East Meadow, New York where she made new friends and continued to enjoy traveling to many places, and spending time with family and friends (new and old).
In late 2010, Genevieve moved to Marietta, Georgia to be closer to David and his wife Lorraine, and their two sons, Dennis and Stephen. At assisted living facilities, Genevieve’s warm and outgoing personality again made new friends.
She was a person of many interests – opera, classical music, popular music, Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, old movies (American and French, especially “Casablanca” with Bogart and Bergman), good food, reading “The Economist” magazine, TV programs on CNN, PBS and Bloomberg, and discussions about world affairs and history. She enjoyed family life and the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. She never lost that slight French accent even as she spoke fluent English. She was an avid letter writer in the European tradition until her arthritis made holding a pen difficult. She never lost her interest in people. She reached out to help others throughout her life and many sought her advice and guidance. She spoke with pride of the students she helped when she was a teacher and how some came back to seek her out and tell her about the contribution she had made to their successes. She never lost her belief in the power of education and continually tried to encourage the young people she encountered to pursue higher education.
While we mourn her death on March 18 2019, we celebrate her remarkable life and all she accomplished, although these are only the highlights. Genevieve is survived by her daughter Lorraine, her son David Hom and his wife Lorraine, her grandsons Dennis Hom and his fiancée Amanda, and Stephen Hom and his wife Cameron.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.obdavismillerplace.com for the Hom family.
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