王花红, 1923 - 2018
王花红 (affectionately known by many as 姥姥 / LaoLao) was born in the Guangdong province of China on December 22, 1923, and passed away peacefully in her sleep in Boston, Massachusetts on August 13, 2018. She was the devoted mother of Liying Wu and her husband Senlin Zhang; loving grandmother of Shuo and (myself) Maggie Zhang; beloved wife of the late Shiming Wu; and a beacon of sunshine for many relatives and friends. She was 94, but was otherwise in great health, so this came as a big shock to everyone. Our family wish to share her story and celebrate her amazing life, and kindly invited others to do the same.
Early Life
My grandmother came from humble beginnings: she learned the bitter taste of life as a child and a young woman in the Puning countryside. In 1955, she moving to Beijing to become a caretaker and cook. She was in her 30s and in pursuit of better opportunities for herself and her future family. She met her husband there as well; however, he suffered from serious illnesses, and after caring for him for years, 姥姥found herself widowed by her 60s. My mom was her only child (which is unusual for that generation), so, as my brother puts it, she cared for me and him with unconditional love as her own children, and we thought of her as a second mother. My brother also told me that my parents immigrated to the US when he was 5, and for the following 3 years 姥姥 single-handedly raised him in Beijing.
Life in the States
In 1993, my brother finally reunited with my parents, and 姥姥 followed him a year later. Shortly after, she raised me as well. Though she spoke no English and received no formal education, she was rich in her friendships and wisdom. She attracted the admiration of all who knew her, and had wisdom of a depth that could only be gained through challenging experiences met with a courageous heart. She was also an endlessly selfless and grateful woman. She never wanted more than what she had and never asked for the attention, time and presents of her family and friends, but rather held a life-long and self-established purpose of serving others. However, she was deeply cared about and looked after. Each of these helping hands were met with heartfelt thanks—strangers, caretakers, and close friends alike. Whether you were the friend who played mahjong with her at Christmas parties; the driver who shuttled her to her home on weekends; the flight attendant who served her during the long flight to China, or the friend who baked her a cake for her birthday, she saw in you the kindness of humanity. It seemed that these past decades following her immigration were some of her happiest.
An Active Mind and Body
A fun-loving spirit, she also loved to get active with me and my brother in in her 70s and 80s. When we were living in my hometown of Needham, Massachusetts, she would take the bus with me to Montessori school each day and to the playground across the street where we would play soccer with our Winnie the Pooh ball. In the summer, my mom would comment that each time we returned we looked so much tanner than we did just an hour ago. When I was in middle school, she would take me to the tennis courts to help me practice, and show off how many times she could bounce the ball on her racket; I was always trying to catch up. She and Shuo would also test how many times they could hit a ping pong ball back and forth, trying to break their record each time. She was also always more confident in her ability to catch a frisbee than me and my mom. Throughout my and Shuo's childhood, she demonstrated patience, persistence, good sportsmanship, and the joy of being active. Even in her 90s, she took walks almost daily and did exercises in the morning, evening, and throughout the day. Sometimes she would jog down the hall with her walker to make us laugh. An early riser and sleeper, she would also sit by the entrance of her senior center every weekday morning, where her friends would find her waiting for the shuttle. She never broke these simple yet important habits, and always reminded us to bring that same discipline to our own lives.
She matched that good health with a sharp mind. Even at the age of 94, she could rival many in a mathematical game of 24, which she played daily. Her books on cooking and natural health from which she often quotes to me and my family are gently worn due to her consistent rereading. We are packing her cards, books, glasses, and mahjong set so that she can take them with her; the mahjong set was arranged with a winning hand so she can always be winning from now on.
Memory
When 姥姥 passed away, we found her in her bed, in an eternal sleep. We will forever hold her in our hearts, and know that she was and will be at peace. No words can truly capture the spirit of 王花红 or describe the legacy she's left us with; however, we can strive to uphold her ideals of an active mind and body; a good work ethic and humble heart; and a spirit of kindness and gratitude. Above all, we wish to keep her story alive. If you would also like to share a story about 姥姥 in the tab above, we kindly welcome you to.
Donation
We wish to properly commemorate 王花红's life and provide her with a wonderful future home in the Forest Hills Cemetery. Donations will help our family with the expenses surrounding the funeral and burial. If you wish to donate, please click here: