Little did Gladys K. H. Chang know that she would be truly blessed with a loving husband, five children, 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren in her lifetime. Let's celebrate the life of Gladys as told by her five children, Geralyn, Garret, Peggy, Janice and Dennis.
Our precious mom, Gladys Kam Ho Chang, was born on Monday, May 5, 1924 and passed away at home on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at the age of 97. Her parents, Kong Chang (aka Goong Goong) and Shee Lum Chang (aka Po Po) were born and raised in Canton, China. Soon after they were married, Goong Goong immigrated to the Island of Oahu to seek a better life. He worked as a tailor and used his earnings to bring Po Po from China to join him. They rented a home in Palama near Farrington High School. Goong Goong continued to work at home as a tailor and Po Po was a housewife who raised 8 children, Kun Bun, Alfred, Thomas, Clifford, Gladys, Ralph, Ernest (Wally) and William.
Being born on Boys’ Day and growing up with seven brothers, our mom grew up as a tomboy who enjoyed games and activities that were physical in nature. She wore her brothers’ hand-me downs and her hair was cut short. In the eyes of her seven brothers, Gladys was a kind, loving and beautiful sister whom they loved and always protected.
At the end of World War II, her family had saved enough money to put a down payment on a home located on the corner of 11th and Pauoa Avenues in Kaimuki. The home was known as Popo’s house. By the time they moved to their new home, Gladys had outgrown her childhood phase of being a tomboy and she blossomed into a beautiful young teen. She assisted Po Po with the endless household chores. She loved to laugh, cook, sew, and crochet.
Mom graduated from Farrington High School and worked as a clerk at Pearl Harbor. There she met our handsome dad, Ernest Goo. Dad completely fell heads over heals in love with mom at first sight. They dated for a year and the courtship led to marriage on Saturday, November 3, 1945. Dad became her hero. Mom quit her job to become a full-time housewife.
She was blessed with a husband who loved her and spent his life keeping her well cared for and happy. They were married for almost 76 years and were blessed with 5 children, 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Mom's seven brothers once told dad that he better take good care of their sister or else. Dad just smiled and nodded ok, but being a young and strong soldier our dad could most likely beat them all up. All kidding aside, we have never seen dad angry with mom or ever heard dad raise his voice to mom. Dad treated mom like a queen. Dad even worked two jobs so that mom did not have to work and could stay home and care for us.
As the years went by, mom and her siblings all found the loves of their lives and were married and had families of their own. The Chang family grew and grew. Popo's house was able to accommodate large family gatherings comfortably. Mom was the pillar that held the family together. She made it a ritual for the families to gather for Sunday dinners. While the adults played mahjong all day and night, the children played ball in the large yard during the day and played cards or watched television until the wee hours of the night when the mahjong game was finally over. The families also celebrated holidays, birthdays, and many other special occasions at Po Po’s house. The home overflowed with shared love, laughter and lots of beautiful memories. Till today, the cousins still keep in touch.
Mom and dad visited Las Vegas once a year when we became teenagers and could take care of ourselves. Mom amazed us at how lucky she was on the poker machines. We stopped counting the number of times she would hit the Royal Flush and four of a kind with a kicker. Dad was a winner, too, and he had a gold card from the Boyd's casinos. We were also winners because mom and dad would come home and share their winnings with the family.
Mom and dad would go bowling once a week. With dad's strength and accuracy, dad won more than his share of jack pots. Of course, mom was not as good as dad, but she enjoyed bowling and mingling with friends and her brothers, Clifford and Wally, and Aunty Florence.
As the years flew by, Geri (and her husband, Warren), Peggy (and her husband, Glenn) and Janice accompanied mom and dad to Las Vegas. Grandchildren Chad, Dustin, Tiffany and Chivas also went to Las Vegas with us. Because dad had a gold card, he treated us to some free meals and paid for our hotel rooms at the Boyd's casinos while in Las Vegas. Free meals included all-you-can-eat buffets with crab legs and fine dining. Geri enjoyed the best wine and lobster while fine dining with dad. Dad's brother, Uncle Buddy, and dad's sister, Aunty Beverly, met us in Las Vegas, too.
Those were the good old days. Sadly, mom’s last trip to Las Vegas was in 2018. Mom suffered a heart attack while at the Main Street Casino and was hospitalized at Valley Hospital, where she underwent pacemaker surgery. We were in Las Vegas for almost a month as mom had to recover before the long airplane ride home. Fortunately, her daughters and Tiffany were with mom and dad at the time. After returning home, mom's health started to decline.
Our precious mom was a gambler at heart. She enjoyed card games, scrabble, mahjong and any other game that involved gambling. For our mom, gambling and sharing laughter were medicine for the soul. Though her body was frail and weary, gambling kept her mind alert and her body energized. She would always say, “if you gamble, no cry cause I’m going to take your money” ... and she did take our money. Her children would play cards with mom until the wee hours of the morning. She did not know when to quit. Weary and tired, she would look at the clock and say, “just one more game.” Seeing her joy and hearing her contagious laughter were highlights of beautiful memories shared with mom.
The family spent four years caring for mom. It was a lot of work and sacrifice, but the time and relationship we had with mom was like —and always will be—like no other in our lives. Mom had an endless supply of love and joy that was freely given — a love so genuine and expressions of gratitude so sincere that it made caring for mom a privilege and a blessing. Luckily, dad was independent and tried to help us care for mom, too. Kari, Dennis' daughter and also the youngest grandchild, helped us care for mom three times a week.
We thank God for allowing our family the gift of time with mom, time to properly say goodbye as we struggled to let her go. During the last week of her life, her children and Tiffany and Chivas slept in the living room next to her hospital bed. We were giving mom Morphine every two hours. All we wanted was to be close to mom, and to each other. It was the hardest week for our entire family. We just didn’t want her to go, but we hated to see mom in pain!
Mom told us that you need all the friends you can get in this world and that you do not want to make enemies. She believed that you should treat people the way you want to be treated.
Mom was more than a mother, she was also our dear friend. From testimonials given at mom's Celebration of Life on Thursday, August 10, 2021, she made all her grandchildren feel like her favorite. Our mom said that from the day you have children until the day you die, you worry about your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We know mom is now our guardian angel in heaven watching over us. It's true, there is nothing greater than a mother's love.
We kissed mom goodbye and promised her that we would be okay, and that we would take care of dad and each other. We thanked her from the bottom of our hearts for filling our lives with the greatest riches a family could ever possibly receive from a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother ... and that was her unconditional love for all of us.
Life is short and we never know when we’ll have our last opportunity to say the things we want to say, until the moment is gone. If you want to say “I love you” to someone, say it now. Go and do the things you want to do with those that you love ... do it now for tomorrow may never come.
It is with a grateful heart to know that our mom is home with the Lord and no longer suffering in pain. Next time you see a dragon fly, think of it as a messenger from a loved one saying to you, “one day you’ll be as happy as me ... till we meet again.”
The song, “You are My Sunshine” is one of mom’s favorite songs. To her family and friends, mom was the sunshine of so many lives and we will treasure her beautiful memories.
We love you mom and always will! Thank you for raising us right.
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Gladys Kam Ho Goo, also known as mom or Gramma Goo, was interviewed by granddaughter Tiffany Lizares, Jan's daughter:
Favorite color: Pink
Favorite food: Noodles
Favorite place: There's nothing like home sweet home
Favorite plant: Pikake
Where were you born? - Kalihi, at home by midwife
Dad: Chang Kong Ng
Mom: Lum See
Siblings: Kon Bun Chang (Bunny), Kon Bo (Alfred), Kon Kau (Tommy), Kon Chew (Clifford), Kon Chin (Ralph), Kon Wah (Wally), Kon Ing (Wiliam)
What were your parents like? - Very nice hard-working people.
What was your earliest childhood memory? - I remember being a tomboy because I had seven brothers.
What schools did you attend? - Kaiulani Elementary School, Kalakaua Intermediate School, Farrington High School
What year did you graduate? - 1942
What was your favorite subject in school? Why? - I liked homemaking classes. I enjoy cooking classes.
Where did you grow up? - Kalihi
What is your favorite childhood memory? - Playing baseball and climbing trees with my brothers.
Did you have any pets? - No!!!
What did you do on the weekends as a teenager? - My father was very strict, so no going out on the weekends.
Have you ever traveled? - Kentucky, Germany and Las Vegas
How did you meet Grandpa Goo? - At a dance.
Was it love at first sight with Grandpa? - Yes, he was thoughtful and handsome with a nice butt.
When did you know you were in love with Grandpa? The first date. He was so handsome.
Who do you think is the boss in the relationship? Of course, it's me!
What do you love most about Grandpa? I love his handsome Chinese looks.
What irritates you about Grandpa? I wish he would talk more.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you want to go? Why? I would want to go to Vegas to win the mega bucks and play with the machines!
What types of jobs have you had? Pearl Harbor as a cashier at the PX, the laundry room and the cannery as a pineapple packer.
What was the scariest moment of your life? Hearing the sirens on December 7, 1941, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.
What was the happiest moment of your life? The happiest time in my life was growing up with my parents and brothers. My mom was sweet and my dad was very strict.
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While Gramma Goo's health was declining, Tiffany had the brilliant idea of asking Gramma Goo for her favorite memories of her children and grandchildren. We are forever grateful to Tiffany as Gramma Goo's kind words will always be remembered and will be held dear to our hearts. Gramma Goo's reflections below have helped us survive during these challenging times without her. Tiffany did not get a chance to ask Gramma Goo for her favorite memories of everyone in the family, however, Gramma Goo was very proud of everyone and loved us all. We all miss Gramma Goo immensely!
Favorite Memories of Gramma Goo
Geri - "She was my beautiful first child! I love the way she goes out to make sure I'm happy and well taken care of. She's the boss of us."
Garrett - "He was my handsome son. I love the way he loves me and makes me laugh."
Peggy - "She was a lovable, friendly and personable child. I love the way she makes us all laugh, but when it comes to taking care of issues, she is top rated!"
Janice - "She was a beautiful and loving child. I have never seen her so happy as when her grandchildren came into her life."
Dennis - "He was the baby in the family and a very good child. He has nurturing and loving ways. I have always felt safe with him and he is the greatest fix-it-all man!"
Chad - "He was the first grandchild that I just cherished! I love the way he made our Christmas bright with his hilarious santa visits. He is the life of any party."
Darin - "He was kind and loving. I never thought of losing him! I will always remember him to be handsome, yet very brave! He'll always be dear to my heart."
Cheryl - "She was my very first granddaughter and was so sweet and cute! She makes me so happy because she never forgets to check on Grandpa and I with a smile."
Val - "She's always smiling and so very thoughtful, even if she lives in Oregon she's always in my thoughts."
Derek - "Yeah, he's always so smart. His elementary report card had all E's." I love how he always saved a special fish that he caught for me."
Dustin - "This Hapa boy was always a rascal, but a good kid. I love how he's always thinking about grandpa and me. I can count on him for anything."
Tif - "I have the happiest and proudest times watching her modeling as a child (pretty and smart child). She always had a heart of gold and would help anyone. She willl always be my sunshine and my BFF (best friend forever)."
Chivas - "He is the apple of my eye. I remember him trying to call Vegas when his grandpa and I left for a trip to Vegas."
Kelli - "She was always a beautiful and loving granddaughter. Her memory was so good as a young child that everyone thought she could read."
Kari - "She is a precious child, kind, loving, thoughtful and hard-working. Until today this pretty girl still makes time for her grampa and me."
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Gladys Kam Ho Goo, age 97 passed away on Thursday, June 10, 2021. Gladys was born May 5, 1924 in Hawaii.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BorthwickOahu.com for the Goo family.
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