Mrs. Noreen Wai-king Wong Chung

CHUNG, Noreen Wai-king Wong, 89, passed away on January 25, 2013. Devoted mother of Isabel Mao and her husband Nai-Hsien Mao, Manyee Tang and her husband Chih-Tong Tang, Grace Chung, and Ada Tam. Loving grandmother of 7 and great grandmother of 7. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours at the funeral home on Wednesday, January 30, family will receive relatives and friends at 4 pm, a Buddhist chanting at 5 pm, eulogy sharing at 6 pm, visiting hours will conclude at 8 pm. Relatives and friend are cordially invited to join the family dinner at China Pearl Restaurant, 9 Tyler St., Chinatown, Boston after the visitation. Parking attendants on duty. Funeral service private. In lieu of flowers and comfort food, family respectfully suggest making donations to KKCS (Kwong Kow Chinese School) or your favorite non-profit organizations.

Noreen Chung

By Manyee, 3rd daughter

Noreen Wai-king Wong Chung 鍾黃惠瓊was born on the birthday of Guanyin (Buddhist Goddess of Mercy), and was always very proud of it. Perhaps because of that, she was regarded by her elders as a very kind person with no temper at all.

She accompanied her big brother to school and attended the same class therefore often bullied by older boys in the class. It is still a mystery why she was assigned to her big brother’s class even though it is obviously unfair for her.

After being slapped by a Japanese soldier for not bowing low enough at a check-point during the Japanese occupation in Hong Kong, she decided to go to Guangzhou (Canton) in Mainland China for school bringing along two litter brothers and one little sister with her at age 19. There she met Taikao Chung, who was from a very wealthy family in Xiguan (西關). Taikao was impressed by her innocence, courage, and perseverance and he himself impressed her with acting brave for a just cause. They married each other within a year.

They had their first child, Isabel, during WWII and went to Hong Kong after the war and the communist take-over to grow their family. When the international political wind changed direction, they went to Taiwan. There, she became a career woman and worked at the US Military Advisory Group to use her great trilingual skills in Cantonese, English, and Mandarin.

After the couple and their youngest daughter Ada went back to Hong Kong, she continued to work in different organizations, such as the Egyptian consulate, Foreign Correspondents Club, and the British Information Services. After she came to the United States, she took a break but later decided to go back to work to accumulate 40 work quarters to earn her social security and Medicare privileges in her new country.

Her real love was music----classical, opera, oldies, but no wraps. She always regretted that she had not been allowed to learn how to sing because back then in Hong Kong performance art was not a chosen profession for proper ladies. According to her baby sister Josephine, she sang her heart out whenever she was in the bathroom. Josephine also mentioned that Noreen had a passion to draw and always drew people, not landscapes or other things. Although she was not an outdoor person, she was a nature lover appreciating natural beauty that others might overlook.

While she was living in Wayland, MA in her 60s, she got her dream opportunity to take vocal lessons, and joined two chorus groups, one Chinese and the other American. She also took lessons in Chinese dulcimer and Chinese painting finally having the leisure to enjoy music and arts freely.

She liked politics and would watch news and documentaries, but sit coms, soap operas, and variety shows were not in her TV guide. She enjoyed philosophical talks and joined the Massachusetts Buddhist Association before its grand opening. She later had a formal ceremony to become a Buddhist.

She lived in Wayland for 20 years, first with her daughter Manyee then in an elderly townhouse. She was able to drive and go places by herself and that was how she could join so many different groups. However, without anyone noticing, Alzheimer’s attacked her stealthily. The sudden empty feeling in her brain scared her, and she moved to live with her oldest daughter Isabel in Castro Valley, California in 2003 after an unusual harsh winter in Boston. Four years later, she moved to Vintage Silver Creek Assisted Living in San Jose near where her youngest daughter Ada lives.

Fortunately, in March 2012, she came back to the Boston area, where she had many friends, to stay with her third daughter Manyee in Wayland. Although she could not recognize her old friends, even her daughter, they remember her, and the overwhelming number of condolences received for her by her family affirmed that.

By Jessica, granddaughter-in-law

I did not have the pleasure to spend a great amount of time with Popo, but of the times we were able to share together, I saw that Popo was a woman of great confidence and kindness. One of the attributes about her that stuck out the most to be was her hospitality.

I first met Popo on a trip for Cindy’s wedding in California in 2008. I remember seeing her for the first time and thinking, “what a distinguished and regal looking woman!” She was sitting upright, with good posture, on a couch in the lobby of her assisted living facility, with her knees together, hand on her cane, and her chin held confidently with a friendly smile. She greeted me with a warm hand shake and received me graciously as a granddaughter, even though at the time I was only Richard’s girlfriend.

When Popo moved to Wayland to live with my mom and dad-in-law, I was prepared to introduce myself as Richard’s new wife and her new granddaughter in law. However, I was surprised when she greeted me and looked at me like she remembered who I was. She could not remember my name but the look in her eye told me that she knew me from before, and I felt welcomed.

I remember her extending that same spirit of hospitality when Richard, William, and I visited her at Whitney Place, an assisted living that she stayed at from time to time. It was late, close to 9 pm, but Popo welcomed us into her room, told us to make ourselves at home and join her for a conversation. She kept offering us water and was concerned about the distance we had travelled to see her. When it was time to leave, she insisted on walking us to the door of her room so she could see us out. The three of us insisted that we help to tuck her in bed, as we could easily walk across the room and let ourselves out. However, she refused to lie down and walked us to the door, and watched us walk down the hall before she shut the door and went to bed. She would not let us take care of her; she wanted to take care of us. She extended her hospitality in this way.

In another example, Richard and I went to visit Popo on another weekend while she was at Whitney Place. When we arrived, Popo was in a group sharing time, where one of the employees was passing around a balloon like a volley ball, and whoever she passed the ball to would have a chance to answer a question about his or herself. When it was Popo’s turn, she told the group that her name was Noreen. When asked what her favorite color was, she said, “I like all of them. They are all beautiful.” At some point, Popo saw Richard and me watching the group, as we didn’t want to interrupt, and she invited us to join – another extension of her hospitality.

After the group, Popo took us on a tour of the facility. She showed us the dining area, a group activity area with a green house. She pointed out pictures on the wall that she liked and crafts that she though were funny. She commented on the pumpkins that were on the table for decoration. She helped us get acquainted with the facility. Then at lunch, Popo hardly ate because she was too worried about Rich and me getting enough to eat. She would take a small bite of food then ask us if we were hungry and if we had enough to eat. She was being hospitable.

Despite Popo’s aches and pains from arthritis, or her fading memory, or the general burdens of having lived close to 90 years, Popo was able to push her own needs aside and think about others. Hospitality is born out of a loving, kind, and generous heart, and I could see in my short time of knowing Popo that she had this kind of a heart. Thank you.

By Cindy, granddaughter

Grandma was elegant, graceful and beautiful.

She took pride in everything she did and worked hard to do them to the best of her ability. For example, she was a very good writer and had beautiful penmanship. She would constantly work to improve and expand her vocabulary, keeping notebooks full of new words that she was working to remember. She would read magazines and save newspaper clippings.

She loved music and opera and had a thirst for knowledge and learning.

She was disciplined and lived a healthy lifestyle. I knew she enjoyed food, but her faith and desire to be in tune with nature and her body lead her to be vegetarian for many years. I remember grandma doing amazing yoga poses and having wonderful strength and flexibility. She seemed to enjoy discovering and mastering things on her own. I remember marveling at her agility as I watched her roll around, while she played on the floor with her great granddaughter, Annabella. I think she was in her 70’s at the time.

PoPo was not a typical grandma that made sweets or baked goods; she was a health food nut. I remember going to her house and asking for candy. She said “sure” and came back with cherry flavored vitamin C tablets. Instead of sweet brownies or cakes, we got crunchy bran crackers with butter and jam because the fiber was good for us. Instead of chocolate, we got carob chips.

I remember one time she developed her own coconut pound cake recipe. She worked very hard to make fresh coconut milk, and use healthy ingredients, etc. It was delicious, but it probably weighed 13 lbs. I remember cutting a slice, and hearing a “thunk”, as the slice fell over onto the plate. We all had a good laugh, and the best part is that PoPo was able to laugh along with us.

She was generous, kind and wise. She had a great sense of humor and liked to laugh.

She and I went on a trip to Canada to visit her sister. It was such a special time, just her and I. We saw fall foliage, ate fantastic food, saw Niagara Falls and went to the top of a mountain. Many might scoff at spending vacation with their grandma, but I always enjoyed her company. She was young at heart and full of energy.

Her favorite perfume was Chanel #5, and I think of her every time I smell it.

I know that I’m lucky to have gotten to spend as much time with her as I did, but somehow 40 years still feels too short.

I love her and will miss her dearly. She can rest peacefully knowing that she made a lasting and positive impact on my life and that I will think of her every time I see my daughter Samantha, whose middle name is Noreen.

Jean, granddaughter, wrote

There’s a verse from a letter written by Paul the apostle to the church in Philippi that says, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” To me, Popo (grandma/婆婆) was the living example. In her life, I have witnessed her constant pursuit of these Godly traits.

Popo sought truth and what is right in everything – from the news to complicated relationships. She always had the news or PBS on, and surrounded herself with neat stacks of newspapers and books she intended to study. She was never too proud to ask us young folks questions, which made us feel so important and intelligent. I never felt rushed when I talked with Popo – even though she was raised in a different generation, she never patronized or belittled me and I always knew she truly cared and understood me. Whenever I felt misunderstood, Popo would restore my faith in myself – she would remind me of whatever was true, noble, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy and good in me. When disagreements arose in the family, as it does in every family, Popo would always reassure me that it was all a misunderstanding and that the bottom line was that we are family and must stick together, and that all of our motives come from a good place - noble and admirable. Because of Popo, I can now help my girls resolve their own disputes in the same way, with the same encouragement Popo gave to me.

I used to think that Popo was rather boring because even in entertainment, Popo sought the lovely and good – never anything cheap and temporary. She sought true beauty that stands the test of time – music and art of all kinds. I love Roger Whitaker because Popo introduced his music to me, and I’ve learned the power and beauty in Chinese calligraphy. She taught me not to judge but to be open minded and to seek the beauty in everything – the way a tree was growing, a stray cloud in the blue sky, everything had a purpose and beauty when looked through Popo’s eyes. Popo was way ahead of her time in bridging the Eastern and Western culture. She taught me the balance and beauty of the Chinese way of life…moderation and gentleness on the mind, body and spirit but she applauded the gusto and ability to push oneself and the open-mindedness of the western culture. She taught me Hatha Yoga in fourth grade when we lived together in Walnut Creek and taught me to appreciate things in their most natural state –the Bionic Woman was more beautiful than Wonder Woman because the Bionic Woman wore less makeup and looked more natural.

The fondest memories I have had with Popo growing up was of her and her daughters talking together in the kitchen or dining room – they would speak excitedly in Cantonese and then I’d hear Popo laugh so hard she’d have to take off her glasses to wipe her eyes dry. When I asked my girls what their fondest memory of Popo was, they all agreed that it was when we all ate chocolates together in the garden at Silver Creek and she laughed as she watched the girls chase each other. She was pretty forgetful then, but I so loved watching her expression every time she realized I have 5 daughters too. She would lift a finger and count each one, and then hold up 5 fingers and say to me, “You have 5 girls?! I have 5 girls too – they are the best!”

I’m so thankful to have had Noreen Chung as Popo and for the legacy she left for me and our children. We are forever changed and better people because of her.

By Isabel, eldest daughter

Mother was a very knowledgeable music lover, an opera fan, and a beautiful coloratura.

Mother was also a nature lover, and artist. She saw and appreciated nature's beauty that others overlooked.

Mother was a down-to-earth lady and a hard worker. She was firm but gentle, graceful, and elegant.