Obituary of Mrs. Yuet Fong Ho 何陳悅鳯太夫人

Mrs. Yuet Fong HO

She was always full of gracefulness  and vitality.  Her niece said.

In spite of tragic events in her life, she lived a long life, full of gracefulness and vitality.

At age 18, she left China.  Her father died in prison for one crime : that he owned a business, that he was a successful entrepreneur. My grandfather was a casualty in rapid changes in the Chinese society.

There were difficult times, and tragic moments, but instead of being bitter and despondent, she lived courageously, with vitality.

In Hong Kong, with my father, she started a school at home, teaching mainly grade 1, grade 2, 10 to 12 pupils at a time. Such small-scale, casual home schools were tolerated, and in demand, before  more  government schools were built. 

Later on, with my father, she started her own home business, embroidering  squences and beads to expensive garments. Each worker came to get the garments and worked at home. That was in the 60s. For several years, that was a very fruitful endeavour.

When I attended university in Canada in the 70s, she sent money to extend my stay in Toronto.  When I graduated, she told me not to return home.  "Go find you own life," she advised.  Decisive, and bold, but wise.  I have always wondered how many mothers would have given such an advice.

In 1978, she realized that the family's dreams about big businesses in Paris were fading.  She asked me to sponsor her to come to Canada.  Again, she was quick to be the one who made pivotal decisions.

With one of my younger brothers attending University of Toronto and another one still in junior high school, she lost no long in seeking employment once she landed in Canada.  She had several part-time jobs until she retired.  Then she became full-time babysitter of her grand children.

Needless to say, we all know that in Hong Kong, in Paris and in Canada, the church played a key role in my parents' life. 

Saying good-bye to her today, I begin to reflect a bit on her life. What would she say to us ?

Invite God into your heart. Live courageously. 

I would add :

Have a life full of gracefulness and vitality.