Mr. George See Sun Jang

George See Sun Jang, loving husband to Rose, beloved father to Belinda, Nancy, Diane, Ray, and Sophia, and Yeh-Yeh / Gung-Gung to 8 adoring grandchildren - Stephen, Samantha, Leanna, Kyle, Nicole, Ryan, Tiara and Colin, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2012 surrounded by his closest loved ones.

George was always blessed with a huge network of friends and family in Vancouver throughout his life, including his brothers Mun and Bob, and his sister Shirley, as well as many aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, and Auntie Betty and Uncle Tommy, who were always a big part of his life.

George immigrated to Canada with his family in 1951 when he was 12 years old. The first family home was an apartment above a store at the corner of Jackson and Georgia. He attended Lord Strathcona Elementary School, which was a couple of blocks away. The family's first memorable introduction to the Canadian way of life came one winter with the arrival of a fully decorated silver-coloured Christmas tree. He had won it earlier at a school party. Everyone was delighted.

His father was away at work at Britannia Beach for months at a time. The family had little money, so he had to come up with ways to make a dime or two. One of them was to pull a wagon full of ice cream bars to a nearby machinery factory and sell to the workers – early signs of his entrepreneurial spirit. When he was older he found work in a café near Terminal and Main. While there he learned self-confidence and how to relate to people.

The family later acquired a grocery store at Cambie and 24th where George worked with his father. A vehicle was needed for deliveries, so one was bought. His first car was a blue Plymouth, and a proud purchase it was for the whole family. George taught his brother to drive in that car.

George and Rose were introduced to each other in 1961 and were married the following year. While raising their five children, George studied TV electronics in the evenings. After obtaining his certificate and continuing to apprentice in the evenings, he opened his own shop in 1973 -- George’s TV Sales and Service. That little shop on East Hastings Street, that he owned and operated for more than 40 years, is an icon, marking his ambition, entrepreneurial abilities, dedication and hard work. He was also the co-owner and operator of a number of large apartment buildings in Vancouver.

George worked tremendously hard as he bridged two worlds, two cultures, and three generations, all while watching his new family in Canada successfully flourish and eventually grow with families of their own. He has been a success story, overcoming many challenges for the greater benefit of his family.

Always helpful, understanding, yet steadfast to his word, he is a great example of what a father, grandfather, friend and businessman should be. George was always there in a special way for his children, and a balancing pillar in the family.

There are many fond memories of the great times Gung-Gung spent with his grown children playing mahjong or the slots at the casinos, where he out-skilled them with ease. He also had an uncanny ability to always come out a winner. George also enjoyed working with his hands -- woodworking was one of his favourite hobbies, as well as other handyman jobs around the house. In fact, he was always ready and willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it.

What made George so endearing to many around him was his sense of humour. He would always be joking with family and friends and even with the waitresses at his favourite restaurant. His big, impish grin could light up any room, especially if he had a bag of tricks up his sleeve for the grandchildren. They never knew when to take him seriously.

George leaves his legacy behind through his children and grandchildren. He and Rose instilled a strong sense of family in them all. Family meant the world to him. Many Sundays were spent around the dinner table as they discussed their daily lives, while the grandkids ran around like monkeys gone wild. I’m sure the neighbours wondered what was going on in the Jang household -- they were such a noisy bunch when they got together. Another one of George’s most memorable moments was the celebration of his 70th birthday at Birch Bay, where the entire Jang clan got together for a family vacation.

Rose was his pillar of strength and they spent many loving years together in their own special way. This year would have marked their 50th wedding anniversary. They were and will remain lifelong companions. George would always say that she had a really good heart and he will always cherish the way she cared for him.

We will all miss you, George!

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George Jang’s Eulogy, by his son Raymond

A special thanks to my sisters: Belinda, Nancy, Diane and Sophia; John Becker, my Uncle Mun, Aunt Shirley and her family, Aunt Betty, and my wife Helen for their help and support during this difficult time.

We are here today to celebrate the life of George See Sun Jang – loving husband to Rose, beloved father of his 5 children, grandfather to 8 adoring grandchildren: Stephen, Samantha, Leanna, Kyle, Nicole, Colin, Tiara and Ryan; and brother to Aunt Shirley, Uncle Mun and Uncle Bob.

My Dad devoted his life to building a strong, tight-knit family, he put all his energy into supporting and helping family and friends, and he will always be remembered for his smile and great sense of humour. My Dad’s laugh was infectious and he was almost always cheerful to friends and family. Cracking jokes and with his smile, he would brighten a room just that much more.

At our Sunday family get-togethers, when we broke out the mah-jong table, we could always rely on Dad for entertainment. In our family, he was the Master of mah-jong and unfortunately he knew it. He would say: “Raymond, you’re too slow!! Come on, why do you have to think so much??” or tease us with his “Gow Jeung”.

We used to play with a rule that the person throwing out the winning card would have to pay for the entire table. He really liked that rule. Most of the time he played big hands and, when he did, as we were about to discard a tile, he would have this smile on his face, threatening to win. It made for many stressful nights. Just ask Diane.

What always impressed me about Dad was his uncanny ability to predict his winning tile and “Gee-Moh” to win the game. He would slam the tile on the table, point at it over and over, while letting out bursts of laughter. It was crazy; it was fun.

My Dad maintained his sense of humour to the end, when only a few weeks ago in the hospital, as the nurses would help him, his jokes and smiles would bring about laughter.

My Dad was someone who put all his energy into his family. When we were kids growing up, if he wasn’t at his TV repair shop or managing apartment buildings, he’d be at home fixing something, helping with chores or cooking. He worked tirelessly, not making much time for himself.

More recently, whether it’s looking after our kids, or driving us to the airport, preparing large feasts, or helping us with home

renovations – he was always there for us. And with 13 kids and grandkids, that makes for a busy George.

Ever since I can remember, he’s always been teaching me to fix things. After buying my home, he would teach me how to use power tools, fix the electrical and the plumbing - only the plumbing part didn’t go so well. In my basement renovation project, the very first nail that I drove punctured the main water line. Unbelievable! We spent a few hours repairing it. Then 3 feet away, another leak! Another few hours. Then a third leak! It was midnight.

Well, this is the kind of man my Dad was. “Raymond, your kids won’t be able to use the washroom. You won’t be able to cook. We have to fix this!” So here we are, midnight, with my Dad standing on a ladder holding a piece of metal protecting the wood framing while I’ve got a blowtorch trying to fix this damn thing. “Raymond, don’t burn the house down!” he would say.

Never a complaint; positive; helpful. He never said no, only “When do you want to start?” My sisters have numerous stories of my Dad coming to their rescue. He focused so much of his life on supporting us and making us happy, I think, in large part because of the difficult childhood he had.

While raising five children, my Dad studied TV electronics in the evenings. After obtaining his certificate and continuing to

apprentice in the evenings, he opened his own shop in 1973 – George’s TV Sales and Service. In that store, my sister Sophia and I spent a few of our elementary school years. Every day after school, we would hang out there. In the mornings, I used to run with the school track team - that always made him proud. After school, my Dad would teach me about transistors, amplifiers, and a myriad of other electronics. He was excited to teach me, and excited to help me build my first transistor

radio.

George’s TV Sales and Service. That little shop on East Hastings Street, that my Dad owned and operated for more than 40 years, is an icon, marking his ambition, entrepreneurial abilities, dedication and hard work. He was also the co-owner and operator of 3 apartment buildings.

Growing up, I always remember my Dad getting calls in the middle of the night to repair something at the apartments. Only later in life, did I realize that even with his tenants he was kind and willing to lend a helping hand. A few months ago, I was at the apartments with my Dad greeting tenants. As we walked through the narrow, creaky hallways of the Pender street apartments, I was so pleasantly shocked to see how the tenants so respected and appreciated my Dad. As far as I know, landlords usually aren’t liked - my Dad was the exception.

Family meant the world to my Dad. He and my Mom instilled a strong sense of family in all of us. It’s a testament to my Mom and Dad that, so often, all of his kids and grandkids will make time for Sunday dinner together. Going to my parents’ house is always fun - games, great food, conversation.

I love my Mom, I love my sisters and their families, and I know they feel the same. This is something my Mom and Dad created, and he can be proud that he’s succeeded in one of his lifelong goals.

The grandkids absolutely adored their Yeh-Yeh/Gung-Gung. My Dad and my Mom spent countless hours with them – in parks, at shows, at home, almost never turning down opportunities to be with them. The hours of playing hockey and soccer in his basement helped my Dad form special bonds with his grandsons Kyle, Colin and Ryan.

Memorable Times

Bruce and Sandra Cheng organize great annual family BBQs, and Cindy and my sister Diane also started yearly Jang BBQs. My Dad, like most everyone else, really enjoyed these events where he could re-connect with relatives. I was touched when I read his online guest book.

May Cheng wrote: “He was a great person filled with lots of joy and laughter. He was a great listener and was always ready to help anyone in need of advice.” “He was very proud of his family and would always speak of [us].”

Susie Cheng wrote that “He was the closest uncle to [her].”

My Dad said one of the more memorable times of his life was on his 70th birthday when the entire Jang family vacationed together. Diane organized an Iron Chef cooking competition with the kids, where my Mom and Dad were the judges. The Jang family can be quite competitive, as my wife Helen will attest to. So in efforts to win, we conducted interviews of their favorite menu items, we bought the best ingredients, used a lot of butter and cream, we tended to their every need, Mike Siu kept reminding my Dad that his car was still being repaired in his garage (for crying out loud), I think Belinda might have even massaged his feet, but I had the ace up my sleeve - I reminded him I was his only son.

Dining was a big part of my Dad’s life. There are many fond memories of the great times he spent enjoying dinners and family functions with his very close friends, pretty-much relatives, Aunt Betty and Uncle Tommy.

Like most Chinese people, he also enjoyed playing slots at the casino, and Kung Fu movies. I have inherited the single largest collection of Kung Fu movies, so if anyone wants to borrow one, just let me know.

Back when the Shaw theatre in Chinatown was open, my Dad used to take me as a kid to many Kung Fu movies. He loved them. I loved them. One time I asked him, before the movie started, what that big red and black panther on the screen was. “Raymond, don’t tell your mom” is all he would say.

As you’ve gathered, mah-jong was also a favourite pastime of his.Growing up I remember, as do many of you here, all those mah-jong parties where he played into the wee hours of the night, with good friends like Bob Wong, George Louie, Fred Wong, my Cow-Fu Uncle George and many others. Those were great memories he cherished.

My Dad enjoyed working with his hands. Later in life, he picked up woodworking. He would come to our homes and scan, looking for things that he could build for us. “Raymond, I think you need some stools for your basement, don’t you? Let me make some for you.” He made beautiful dog houses for Sophia and me. The stools however, never did quite sit straight, but we loved him for it anyway.

His Loving Wife

In his own special way, my Dad loved my Mom. They did most everything together, enjoying each others’ company: little trips to Washington, Tulip Festival, dining at local restaurants and Chinese concerts.

He supported her any way he could. He regularly praised her cooking and was always at hand to help out in the kitchen and the house. On vacations, I would occasionally catch a peek at them holding hands, laughing together, loving each other.

This year would have marked their 50th wedding anniversary. After nearly 50 years of marriage, my Dad would still say to me and my sisters how “she was such a great wife” and that “she has a really good heart.” Until recently, I didn’t know my Mom hadn’t heard this before - I only wish she could have heard it directly from him. Though not in words, in his final moments Mom, holding your hand and looking into your eyes, he did.

My Dad, George See Sun Jang, has been a success story, overcoming many challenges for the greater benefit of his family. Always helpful, understanding, yet steadfast to his word, he is a great example of what a father, grandfather, friend and businessman should be.

He is blessed with a great network of friends and family. His loving sense of humour, and devotion to building and supporting a tight-knit family forms the foundation on which his family stands.

He should be proud.

We all miss him.

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A Letter to Dad, by his daughter Diane

Hello Daddy,

Dad, do you remember the time when you quietly gave me $600 to fix my car during my final year in university when I had no money? You said to me, “Please let me do this for you. Think of it as my small part towards your university education.” The reason why I will always remember this is because you were showing me in your own way that you were proud of me that I made it! This was the moment, moving forward that you believed in me, that I could do anything if I worked hard at it.

Dad, I was so glad to be able to share some of your happiest times: The trip back to China after 30 years when you were so proud to show Nancy and me the house that you grew up in and introduce us to all your cousins at the village who immediately recognized you even after 30 years. How about your 70th birthday party in Birch Bay? You said it was the best birthday that you ever had. Remember our trip to Phoenix with mom? You and mom were holding hands, laughing together, and acting like old sweethearts. And most recently, you were so overjoyed when we organized the 1st Annual Jang clan BBQ. Well Dad, we will do our best to continue the tradition in your memory.

Dad, you were my ROCK. I always came to you for personal and professional advice. I could talk to you about anything, even about boys and relationships. Somehow you always managed to give me good advice, you fixed things when needed, or you just offered me your unconditional love and support. You accepted me for who I was. Your guidance throughout my life has helped make me a better person. Dad, I know that you were proud of me and all your kids. I just also want to say that we are so proud to have a dad like you.

I will always be one of daddy’s little girls. I love you, Dad.

Diane