Memories of Barbara Jean Wong (Celebration of Life)
May 13, 2021
by Brian Wong
Barbara Jean Wong's Memorial Service
May 13, 2021
by Brian Wong
A Celebration of Barbara Jean Wong's Life
Description
Please join us as we memorialize Barbara Jean Wong- wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, dear friend and long-time resident of Palo Alto, CA.
May 12, 2021, 10:30am
Music Prelude Mihaela Kolovson
Words of Welcome Rev. Dr. Martin Allen, Chaplain
Scripture Reading Psalm 23
Remembrance:
Guy Y. Wong, Husband
Andrew & Brian Wong, Sons
Elizabeth Louie, Sister
Nira Wong, Sister
Phyllis Au, Classmate
Roberta Roumel, life long friend (via ZOOM)
Music Ida Ma
Memories of Barbara Slideshow
Music Amazing Grace (sing together)
Closing Prayer Rev. Dr. Martin Allen, Chaplain
Music Coda Mihaela Kolovson
Description
Please join us as we memorialize Barbara Jean Wong- wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, dear friend and long-time resident of Palo Alto, CA.
May 12, 2021, 10:30am
Music Prelude Mihaela Kolovson
Words of Welcome Rev. Dr. Martin Allen, Chaplain
Scripture Reading Psalm 23
Remembrance:
Guy Y. Wong, Husband
Andrew & Brian Wong, Sons
Elizabeth Louie, Sister
Nira Wong, Sister
Phyllis Au, Classmate
Roberta Roumel, life long friend (via ZOOM)
Music Ida Ma
Memories of Barbara Slideshow
Music Amazing Grace (sing together)
Closing Prayer Rev. Dr. Martin Allen, Chaplain
Music Coda Mihaela Kolovson
Eulogy for Barbara Jean Wong by Guy Y. Wong, MD
May 13, 2021
by Brian Wong
May 12, 2021
Family, friends and guests,
Today, we come together to remember Barbara Jean Wong, my beloved wife, your sister and friend. I best remember Barbara when she was happily surrounded by her sons, me, extended family and friends. That scene reminded me of 3 aspects of Barbara: Her devotion to family, her fun-loving nature and greatly valuing friends.
Beginning with her devotion to family, Barbara was deeply dedicated to her two sons-Andrew and Brian; and, of course, her husband. Regarding her sons, she frequently discussed with me, how to seek out the best means of developing their talents in sports, music and communicative skills. She was firm and loved them unconditionally. She helped me professionally by delighting and charming my colleagues and their mates, as well as in so many other ways. An example, I’ll never forget-- the surprise birthday party arranged with my colleagues coming all dressed up, when I came thru the door not expecting anyone and in my tennis shorts!!
To my parents, she was very devoted and loving. She welcomed them to stay with us for many years, they especially enjoyed helping her to bring up Andrew and Brian, their grandsons. On the way, they shared favorite food recipes. Additionally, Barbara was also very cordial to my siblings, and soon became a favorite.
Barbara loved her Fong family and endured the long drive between Silicon Valley and Fairfield to spend the weekends with them. This also enabled Andrew, Brian and me to enjoy the in-laws and the ranch with its accompanying activities. These included fruit picking, motorbiking, hiking, etc. We were able to do this drive until the boys’ schedules conflicted with these trips.
As an auntie, she was much loved and provided a ready ear for her nephews, nieces and friends’ children. Many referred to her as a “second mom.” They related that as a result of them talking with her, they turned out to be better people.
Now onto Barbara’s fun-loving nature –She found the gathering of families, friends and my colleagues to be joyous and cheerful events. She often had a way of engaging in good natured playful teasing—as capably receiving it as she was dishing it out.
Sports were also a favorite past time for Barbara. These included skiing, tennis and fishing. There was the annual Tahoe ski trip with the Quan family and their 2 sons similar in age to Andrew and Brian. Our tennis, golf and fishing activities were great fun times for the family.
Barbara’s teaching activities were much enjoyed by those involved. She was a beloved teacher whose students became part of her life. Because the students whom Barbara taught, found learning such a pleasure, parents would vie to have their children placed in her class. Her students in fact were present when Barbara was married at the Stanford Memorial Church. As I’ll never forget this—they were passing out the Chinese wedding cakes to guests exiting the church!
Traveling was great fun for Barbara starting early on. After graduation from college, she found employment as a teacher in Japan, thus enabling her to explore Asia-Pacific areas such as Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Macau. Together with me during nearly five decades of marriage, we happily traveled the world, doing 1-3 international trips annually until recently.
Next, -----Barbara greatly valued friendships. Her friends ranged from those formed from early childhood and thereafter. She faithfully maintained many of them with letters, phone calls, emails and, of course, via her annual red Chinese New Year letter card!
Barbara formed deep and lasting friendships with the parents of Andrew and Brian’s classmates.
Many of my colleagues and their wives too, became lifelong friends of Barbara. This was also true with our neighbors, who found being with her was such a joy.
Barbara very much valued, in particular, her college and post college chum friends. Amongst them were Patricia LeMel, Phyllis Au, and Roberta Roumel. These were the people she did so much with — gossip, shop, travel, and sports, until recently.
In concluding --- with Barbara’s devotion to family, a fun-loving nature and focus on friendship, I have been the luckiest husband and had clearly married up!! Barbara, we love you and will miss you so much!!
Thank you
Family, friends and guests,
Today, we come together to remember Barbara Jean Wong, my beloved wife, your sister and friend. I best remember Barbara when she was happily surrounded by her sons, me, extended family and friends. That scene reminded me of 3 aspects of Barbara: Her devotion to family, her fun-loving nature and greatly valuing friends.
Beginning with her devotion to family, Barbara was deeply dedicated to her two sons-Andrew and Brian; and, of course, her husband. Regarding her sons, she frequently discussed with me, how to seek out the best means of developing their talents in sports, music and communicative skills. She was firm and loved them unconditionally. She helped me professionally by delighting and charming my colleagues and their mates, as well as in so many other ways. An example, I’ll never forget-- the surprise birthday party arranged with my colleagues coming all dressed up, when I came thru the door not expecting anyone and in my tennis shorts!!
To my parents, she was very devoted and loving. She welcomed them to stay with us for many years, they especially enjoyed helping her to bring up Andrew and Brian, their grandsons. On the way, they shared favorite food recipes. Additionally, Barbara was also very cordial to my siblings, and soon became a favorite.
Barbara loved her Fong family and endured the long drive between Silicon Valley and Fairfield to spend the weekends with them. This also enabled Andrew, Brian and me to enjoy the in-laws and the ranch with its accompanying activities. These included fruit picking, motorbiking, hiking, etc. We were able to do this drive until the boys’ schedules conflicted with these trips.
As an auntie, she was much loved and provided a ready ear for her nephews, nieces and friends’ children. Many referred to her as a “second mom.” They related that as a result of them talking with her, they turned out to be better people.
Now onto Barbara’s fun-loving nature –She found the gathering of families, friends and my colleagues to be joyous and cheerful events. She often had a way of engaging in good natured playful teasing—as capably receiving it as she was dishing it out.
Sports were also a favorite past time for Barbara. These included skiing, tennis and fishing. There was the annual Tahoe ski trip with the Quan family and their 2 sons similar in age to Andrew and Brian. Our tennis, golf and fishing activities were great fun times for the family.
Barbara’s teaching activities were much enjoyed by those involved. She was a beloved teacher whose students became part of her life. Because the students whom Barbara taught, found learning such a pleasure, parents would vie to have their children placed in her class. Her students in fact were present when Barbara was married at the Stanford Memorial Church. As I’ll never forget this—they were passing out the Chinese wedding cakes to guests exiting the church!
Traveling was great fun for Barbara starting early on. After graduation from college, she found employment as a teacher in Japan, thus enabling her to explore Asia-Pacific areas such as Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Macau. Together with me during nearly five decades of marriage, we happily traveled the world, doing 1-3 international trips annually until recently.
Next, -----Barbara greatly valued friendships. Her friends ranged from those formed from early childhood and thereafter. She faithfully maintained many of them with letters, phone calls, emails and, of course, via her annual red Chinese New Year letter card!
Barbara formed deep and lasting friendships with the parents of Andrew and Brian’s classmates.
Many of my colleagues and their wives too, became lifelong friends of Barbara. This was also true with our neighbors, who found being with her was such a joy.
Barbara very much valued, in particular, her college and post college chum friends. Amongst them were Patricia LeMel, Phyllis Au, and Roberta Roumel. These were the people she did so much with — gossip, shop, travel, and sports, until recently.
In concluding --- with Barbara’s devotion to family, a fun-loving nature and focus on friendship, I have been the luckiest husband and had clearly married up!! Barbara, we love you and will miss you so much!!
Thank you
Andrew & Brian Wong’s Eulogy to their Mother
May 13, 2021
by Brian Wong
May 12, 2021
Andrew:
My brother and I want to thank you for your love and support, during what has been a pretty overwhelming time, as you can imagine, given how quickly our mom’s decline occurred from diagnosis to her passing. Thank you.
Before going any further, Brian and I first want to thank our father for being such a great husband and father.
Dad… Brian and I saw how you always treated mom with the highest priority. Your patience, your understanding, discernment, and wisdom helped Brian and me to navigate ourselves to be good sons and devoted husbands. And it has also helped us to understand what we need to do, to be even better to our family and friends. Thanks dad.
For our mother… Words have been failing us as we try to reflect on our mom's life. One thing is for certain, though, my brother and I are fortunate to be her sons and it is an honor to call her our mom.
We would like to share a few thoughts on mother with you, and hope they can convey how we saw mom:
Mom represented devotion to family, love and loyalty to friends, and a creative spirit
In hindsight, we realized just how much mom dedicated herself to our wellbeing. Shuttling us to different lessons and activities and ensuring that our tummies were adequately filled (mine, probably a bit too much in my earlier days). In elementary school, Brian and I were envious that we could not get the peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white Wonder bread, or the bologna and cheese on white. For some reason, our mom kept giving us Ezekiel sprouted grain bread with sliced oven-baked turkey with avocado, romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts and Dijon mustard. We’d be thinking, “Mom, really???” Mom was just trying to get us into the habit of eating whole foods earlier, which we yearned to eat more of, after we left home for college.
As a mother of two boys, mom had challenges and disciplined us plenty over the years when we got out of hand. But what we came to realize over time was that she was always thinking about us and our well-being. Mom wanted us to become hard-working, responsible gentlemen who could contribute back to society. And she wanted us to have the necessary skills, tact, and integrity to be effective.
When Brian called mom recently, upon hearing of her illness, he wanted to express how appreciative we were of her love and support, mom quickly replied, “Don’t worry Bri, it was easy, all it took was a wooden spoon!” Let us just caveat that mom did not use the wooden spoon on us, rather she used stories and thoughtful words to teach us. It was the table that received the licking from the wooden spoon, occasionally, and the sound gave us a startle and warning to be mindful.
Mom never asked for anything back in return (the attention always seemed focused on us). That was how SELFLESS she was not only to my dad, brother, and me, but also to relatives and friends.
Auntie Liz was sharing some postcards while our mom was in Japan (in her early years), and mom was always talking about shopping for this item or that item for different members of the family. That thoughtfulness of others was so strong in mom. From our earlier days, I remember my mom and dad welcoming Stanford graduate students from China, Mihaela (our resident concert pianist) and other dear friends/relatives into our home. I think it was innate for my mom, as this was not dissimilar to what was done on the fruit farm (or “the country” as we referred to it), where the door was open to everyone, any time and relatives and friends would often stay for periods of time. Brian and I gained perspectives and were also taught many valuable lessons by these relatives and friends.
What mom generously gave to us and her friends, her friends gave back to us. Therefore, when our mom sought a break, it was not uncommon for our neighbors or relatives to offer a temporary helping hand. Babysitting by Aunt Liz, Aunt Ni, Uncle Robert or Auntie Eman. Brian staying the week at the Price’s or the Page’s and me at the Friedman’s or both of us at the Quan’s, while my folks were out of town. Play dates at the Stein’s, Gur’s, Foley’s, and Mok’s, etc. It was a warm community of understanding and nurturing friends. As my dad and I were recently catching up with our neighbors, the Friedman’s, this past week, Mrs. Friedman kindly served us tea with a beautiful cloisonne tea set that mom had given to her. It was just another reminder of the friendly gestures characteristic of mom with our friends.
One thing is for sure… you would always see a sparkle in mom’s eye whenever we expressed our thanks or appreciation; that’s all she wanted to hear occasionally, for her outsized efforts to help others.
Brian:
I’d like to just say a few words about our mother’s creative spirit and what made her so unique. It was reflected in her oil painting, her love of playing music or singing and exploration of new projects and pursuits. She was always so spontaneous and would on occasion belt out a beautiful melody from the Sound of Music or start showing us her hula moves. . . it wasn’t until after she passed away that we realized many decades ago that she was actually a national contestant for Miss Chinatown USA and her talent was hula and flamenco dancing!
Mom also had amazing fashion sense. . one could describe her style very “With it”. Besides her impeccable taste for stylish outfits, her favorite brand of eyeglasses was Cazal. Who else would have known that my mother was defining hip hop style of the 80’s with her choice in brands?! Trends come and go, but mom never went out of fashion. . Her style and elegance were timeless!
As I reflected on the loss of our mother, I looked around my world and realized so much of what we have lived and become have been shaped by her creative sense. . . the aesthetics of our living space, our sense of humor, how we perceive beauty. . Mom was a force of nature with her creative spirit and touched each and every one of us. .
Andrew and I have lost our wonderful mother, a teacher, and a fervent cheerleader to us, family and friends. We are grieving for the amazing relationship and connection we had with her. We are grieving for our dad who has lost the love of his life and his perfect complement, and we are sad for our children, who have only known their wonderful grandmother for a short time in their lives. We have all suffered a deep loss.
BUT mom taught us all what is truly important in life - to love, support and care for friends and family. It is relationships that make our lives meaningful, and we are all better off for having known her.
-END-
Andrew:
My brother and I want to thank you for your love and support, during what has been a pretty overwhelming time, as you can imagine, given how quickly our mom’s decline occurred from diagnosis to her passing. Thank you.
Before going any further, Brian and I first want to thank our father for being such a great husband and father.
Dad… Brian and I saw how you always treated mom with the highest priority. Your patience, your understanding, discernment, and wisdom helped Brian and me to navigate ourselves to be good sons and devoted husbands. And it has also helped us to understand what we need to do, to be even better to our family and friends. Thanks dad.
For our mother… Words have been failing us as we try to reflect on our mom's life. One thing is for certain, though, my brother and I are fortunate to be her sons and it is an honor to call her our mom.
We would like to share a few thoughts on mother with you, and hope they can convey how we saw mom:
Mom represented devotion to family, love and loyalty to friends, and a creative spirit
In hindsight, we realized just how much mom dedicated herself to our wellbeing. Shuttling us to different lessons and activities and ensuring that our tummies were adequately filled (mine, probably a bit too much in my earlier days). In elementary school, Brian and I were envious that we could not get the peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white Wonder bread, or the bologna and cheese on white. For some reason, our mom kept giving us Ezekiel sprouted grain bread with sliced oven-baked turkey with avocado, romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts and Dijon mustard. We’d be thinking, “Mom, really???” Mom was just trying to get us into the habit of eating whole foods earlier, which we yearned to eat more of, after we left home for college.
As a mother of two boys, mom had challenges and disciplined us plenty over the years when we got out of hand. But what we came to realize over time was that she was always thinking about us and our well-being. Mom wanted us to become hard-working, responsible gentlemen who could contribute back to society. And she wanted us to have the necessary skills, tact, and integrity to be effective.
When Brian called mom recently, upon hearing of her illness, he wanted to express how appreciative we were of her love and support, mom quickly replied, “Don’t worry Bri, it was easy, all it took was a wooden spoon!” Let us just caveat that mom did not use the wooden spoon on us, rather she used stories and thoughtful words to teach us. It was the table that received the licking from the wooden spoon, occasionally, and the sound gave us a startle and warning to be mindful.
Mom never asked for anything back in return (the attention always seemed focused on us). That was how SELFLESS she was not only to my dad, brother, and me, but also to relatives and friends.
Auntie Liz was sharing some postcards while our mom was in Japan (in her early years), and mom was always talking about shopping for this item or that item for different members of the family. That thoughtfulness of others was so strong in mom. From our earlier days, I remember my mom and dad welcoming Stanford graduate students from China, Mihaela (our resident concert pianist) and other dear friends/relatives into our home. I think it was innate for my mom, as this was not dissimilar to what was done on the fruit farm (or “the country” as we referred to it), where the door was open to everyone, any time and relatives and friends would often stay for periods of time. Brian and I gained perspectives and were also taught many valuable lessons by these relatives and friends.
What mom generously gave to us and her friends, her friends gave back to us. Therefore, when our mom sought a break, it was not uncommon for our neighbors or relatives to offer a temporary helping hand. Babysitting by Aunt Liz, Aunt Ni, Uncle Robert or Auntie Eman. Brian staying the week at the Price’s or the Page’s and me at the Friedman’s or both of us at the Quan’s, while my folks were out of town. Play dates at the Stein’s, Gur’s, Foley’s, and Mok’s, etc. It was a warm community of understanding and nurturing friends. As my dad and I were recently catching up with our neighbors, the Friedman’s, this past week, Mrs. Friedman kindly served us tea with a beautiful cloisonne tea set that mom had given to her. It was just another reminder of the friendly gestures characteristic of mom with our friends.
One thing is for sure… you would always see a sparkle in mom’s eye whenever we expressed our thanks or appreciation; that’s all she wanted to hear occasionally, for her outsized efforts to help others.
Brian:
I’d like to just say a few words about our mother’s creative spirit and what made her so unique. It was reflected in her oil painting, her love of playing music or singing and exploration of new projects and pursuits. She was always so spontaneous and would on occasion belt out a beautiful melody from the Sound of Music or start showing us her hula moves. . . it wasn’t until after she passed away that we realized many decades ago that she was actually a national contestant for Miss Chinatown USA and her talent was hula and flamenco dancing!
Mom also had amazing fashion sense. . one could describe her style very “With it”. Besides her impeccable taste for stylish outfits, her favorite brand of eyeglasses was Cazal. Who else would have known that my mother was defining hip hop style of the 80’s with her choice in brands?! Trends come and go, but mom never went out of fashion. . Her style and elegance were timeless!
As I reflected on the loss of our mother, I looked around my world and realized so much of what we have lived and become have been shaped by her creative sense. . . the aesthetics of our living space, our sense of humor, how we perceive beauty. . Mom was a force of nature with her creative spirit and touched each and every one of us. .
Andrew and I have lost our wonderful mother, a teacher, and a fervent cheerleader to us, family and friends. We are grieving for the amazing relationship and connection we had with her. We are grieving for our dad who has lost the love of his life and his perfect complement, and we are sad for our children, who have only known their wonderful grandmother for a short time in their lives. We have all suffered a deep loss.
BUT mom taught us all what is truly important in life - to love, support and care for friends and family. It is relationships that make our lives meaningful, and we are all better off for having known her.
-END-