Mrs. Rui Hua Zhang

To Mrs. Rui Hua Zhang, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Ruihua, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Ruihua really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Ruihua was born on June 8, 1940 at Tiansui, Gaisu in China. Her parents were Ruxiang and Mengyun Zhang. Ruihua was raised in Tiansui,Xian. Even as a child, Ruihua had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Ruihua was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Ruihua managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Ruihua was raised with five siblings. She had one older brother, two younger brothers and two younger sisters.

      All of Ruihua's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Ruihua experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in basketball, and fitness. She was a member of the training team. In her spare time she liked to read books and play cards. Ruihua's memorable achievements included winning a 'First Place of the School' award.

      Ask anyone who knew her from school and he/she would tell you that Ruihua was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Ruihua simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Ruihua, grades may not have been the most important thing, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Ruihua's best teacher, she enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Ruihua graduated from Tiansui High School in 1958. She enjoyed some courses more than others, with favorite classes and teachers.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Ruihua very easy to approach. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in her marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Ruihua related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Ruihua was blessed with two daughters, Xiaohua Nie, Xiaohong Nie, who in turn had two sons, Jian Chai and Dongfang Shangguan, respectively. Ruihua had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Ruihua's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Ruihua had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

      At work, as in life, Ruihua was a real “people person.” She had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Ruihua liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Ruihua was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Ruihua's talent for being a down to earth thinker allowed many around her to see Ruihua as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was one of a Chemical Analyzer. She was employed for 43 years.

      Ruihua enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Ruihua liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were playing cards and calligraphy. Ruihua was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

      Ruihua felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Ruihua loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Ruihua relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Ruihua never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Her favorite recreational sports included croquet, and table tennis. Ruihua was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity.

      Living life in the fast lane suited Ruihua just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included trips to Japan, U.S.A, and Canada.

      Ruihua believed that you had to experience life, and her life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 2000, Ruihua took it in stride as one more way to have fun. With her boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Ruihua remained busy with people and projects. Even in retirement, Ruihua continued to stay in touch with her old friends and, since she'd never met a stranger, she made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

      Ruihua passed away on March 12, 2012 at Richmond Hospital in Richmond, Canada.

      Ruihua brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Mrs. Rui Hua Zhang lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.