(originally posted August 30, 2013 at legacy.com)

RIP Auntie Bessie... Love to you and yours always!

Auntie Bessie was the best… she reminded me of my mom! I remember the times when I stayed with them during the summers, Auntie Bessie was always taking care of Uncle Stephen (my mom was working full time; she also had a part job and was raising four children). I am glad they are together in Heaven now and Auntie Bessie is with my mom (her sister Mary) and dad (Albert Jong). I know it was a lot of hard work to take care of Uncle Stephen, but she was a tough cookie… and it runs in the family!!

I have not had a chance to thank Kenneth for letting me know about Auntie Bessie's condition! I know he would exercise her when she was at the assisted living place and they (Michael and Kenneth) took her to her doctors' appointments. I know it was really hard on Kenneth as he was much stressed and every time he would go visit, his heart condition would get worse. Auntie Bessie would also call Michael and Kenneth to fix things. I did not know this, but Michael and Theresa took Auntie Bessie on a lot of cruises and took her shopping every Sunday. Kenneth and Michael started to clean out her home… the last time I was there, there was so much stuff… she must be like me, a hoarder… I save everything, but have also been trying to get rid of items, so my kids will not have to clean up my treasures when it is my time! When she went into the hospital, Kenneth kept me informed, so my sister Carolyn and I had a chance to visit her. Then she was released back to the home, had he not kept me informed, Carolyn, my brother Larry and I would have never had these last visitations with Auntie Bessie. I will always treasure my last two visits at her home… especially the last visit where Michael, Kenneth and I were singing campfire songs, Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Israel Kamakawiwo'ole), Tiny Bubbles (Don Ho), I Left My Heart in San Francisco (Tony Bennett) and other reminiscing songs! She would open her eye/eyes to take a peek, even though she didn't have much strength… I know she enjoyed and loved it!! I LOVE you Auntie Bessie!!! xoxoxo 
All our love, 
Marilyn, Ernest, Kristina and Justin

Mom, Thank you for all you've done for us.  I wish I was in better health to take better care of you. I will always cherish the memories of my childhood camping trips with you and dad. I will always remember all the classes you had taken when I was a child. It showed me to experience life and not to be afraid to try something new. You taught me to be adventurous, to work hard, to reach for the stars. I am happy to have shared trips with you and dad I know how hard it was to take care of dad as I tried to help you for a year. Chris, Kirby and I will miss your overnight stays with us. We will miss our trips with you. I know you were proud of my accomplishments. I miss going to class with you and I will cherish those moments. I will miss hearing your voice. I love you and you will always be in my heart and mind.

As Americans we celebrate our National Treasures.  Now, American National Treasures consist almost entirely of places or structures.  The Golden Gate Bridge, the Carvings at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorials in Washington D.C. are our type of National Treasures.
 
Bess has one granddaughter who lives in Europe in France and has lived there for about 10 years.  And in Europe they also have landmarks which are National Treasures the Louvre Museum, the Arc of Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower.  But the French go a step further with it.  Certain types of people are considered National Treasures  Brigitte Bardot is one of theirs based on I guess her looks.
 
When we cross the English Channel the English people do the same thing , but they are more discerning.  Sir Laurence Olivier is an English National Treasure, based on his Great acting ability.
 
Now, when I was told that I, along with the members of her family would be permitted to help attend to Bess, once she came home frm the hospital, I was very aware that this was the greatest honor anyone has ever given me in my life.   I thought of this everyday I was with her.
 
If we apply the European Standard to ourselves, Bessie Yee Lee was an American – California National Treasure.  Born in 1923 and living to the age of 90 (Bess would say 91) she was witness to a lot of American – California history.  She didn't just read about it, she lived it.
 
I used to mention this to Bess from time to time while I was attending her.  Bess would look up at me with those eyes, and reply, “a lot you know”.  But what I was saying was true, profoundly true whether Bess chose to believe it or not. 
 
Now I wanted to leave a thought from Shakespeare/Romeo and Juliet which expresses how I felt aobut Bess: 
                                    Lay her out under the stars -
                                    And she will make the face of the night time heaven so bright -
                                    That all the world will worship the night –
                                    And will forget to pay homage to the Sun -

About 20 years ago I started teasing Aunt Bessie calling her our family Chinese Child Bride.
How it came about was during a conversation about our family members she told me she was a teen ager when she married.  I was surprised that there were not many years separating us.  Thinking back on my time spent at Aunt Bessie and Uncle Stephen's egg ranch during the WW II years.  My siblings and cousins spent summer vacations and holidays at the ranch.  We had our chores.  My late cousin Nancy and I had the chore of filling bags of sawdust/straw that were for the chicken coops.  Aunt Bessie frequently helped us with the chore.  We had many “girl” conversations, more like with an older sister than an “Aunt” who one automatically thinks of being much older.  She appeared to enjoy our company.  Now I realize why, we were closest to being her peers.
 
I remember Aunt Bessie as a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.  It was so apparent in how she took care of Uncle Stephen after he suffered a stroke and was confined to a wheel chair.  He was not a small person or an easy person to please.  She made the adjustment by getting a van with a lift, and took  Uncle everywhere, to medical appointments, family gatherings and   social events, and I think, vacations too.  She frequently visited my late mother, pushing Uncle in his wheel chair, up the walk-way, lifting him and the wheel chair up the steps onto the porch and up to the front door into the house; and when leaving, she would reverse the process.  The one person who often accompanied them was their grandson Jeremy.  When we were there, we would give a hand to Aunt Bessie with getting Uncle up the steps but I'm sure if we weren't there she could have managed on her own.  Most of all she put up with his grumpy spells with a smile.
 
Aunt Bessie was not just physically strong, she was strong willed, intelligent, a high achiever and a hard worker who was very successful in her work life.  She was talented person who could sew, crochet, knit; and in later years learned and did upholstery so well that she could have gone into business. Keeping active was her mindset.  I recently learned that she had a green thumb for raising orchids.
 
What I admired most about Aunt Bessie was her open mind and interest for continuing education, for knowledge and learning new skills.   She had a sense of humor and a great laugh which I will miss.
 
She had lived a full-life.
 
Aunt Bessie's decline in health was apparent about a year and a half ago.  We had a few phone conversations where it was difficult for her to hear and to speak clearly.  We visited her at UCDMC during her last hospitalization.  She still was able to greet me with a not so clear but recognizable “long time no see”.  Here prognosis was bleak and she was sent home with Hospice care.  My sisters, Stan and I visited her 2 days before she past, she knew it would be our last goodbyes.  She spent her last days at home where she wanted to be, in her home where she and Uncle Stephen lived most of their married life and having her family with her.  Sharon and her friend Ron arranged 24/7 care for her over the past few months.  Aunt Bessie's every need was met.  I know how much Aunt Bessie appreciated their devotion.  I saw the love in her eyes whenever she looked at Sharon and Ron .  Aunt Bessie's goal was to reach her 90th birthday, which she did.  I believe without the care provided by Sharon and Ron it would not have been possible.  Our family and cousins want to thank you both for the loving care you so selflessly gave.
 
Aunt Bessie, was the youngest and the last of our elder generation on the Lee side to leave us.  It's the generation we grew up with, that instilled in us our heritage, values; and from whom we looked for guidance and wisdom.  Now that legacy is left for our generation to uphold for the next generation.  We know that Aunt Bessie is now in eternal life with Uncle Stephen, their parents, and their family members who had left before her.  Dear Aunt Bessie, until you greet me again with “Long time no see!” I will miss you.

Thank you great grandma for running after me and discipling me for my own good. Also for taking me to the park and looking after me.

Thank you great grams for always thinking about me...buying me candy and always making sure we have candy with no nuts to go home with! Thanks for teaching me to sew, watching us ride our bikes and scooters and putting up the swimming pool for us. I will miss you waking me up mid-day with my chicken noodle soup ready for me to eat! Love you and miss you lots!

Thank you great grandma for teaching us to peel potatoes, even if you took over and peeled them all. Thanks for preparing them...they were yummy. Thanks for waking me up early so that i can say hi to grandma when she stops by and for having breakfast ready for me. The moment that Alex and i will always share in our hearts is your laugh...you laughing at an old time film so much you fell off the chair and we came running in to see what happened and you were sitting on the floor still laughing! Love u and miss u always!

Je n'ai pas très bien connu Bessie mais je sais qu'elle était une grand-mère charmante et attentionnée. Je sais que ces petits enfants Izzy, Alex & Lucas l'adoraient. Je sais aussi qu'elle manquera à toute sa famille ainsi qu'à Jaime.
Bessie m'a demandé un jour de veiller sur Jaime et ses petits-enfants, elle est malheureusement partie trop tôt et j'en suis triste. Mais je tiendrais ma promesse et j'y veillerai toujours.
Puisses Bessie reposer en paix.

I remember my mother as a very talented seamstress, she would sew my children and I many items ranging from casual to fancy evening wear, to blankets and pillows.  She even had time to knit me sweaters and vests.

She was a hard worker and never let her career interfered with her family life. I would remember every summer she would take two weeks off from work to take the family traveling or on camping trips.

Mom's life with dad, was a shining example of the kind of unconditional love required to see a marriage through good and bad times. These values I took into my own marriage.

Thank you for the many times you baby sat my children and help me raise them. With four children to raise and working full-time this really gave me some relief.

I love you and wish we could have had more time together. I will cherish all of the great memories and I'm already missing you dearly. Love you always in my heart!

Your loving daughter,

One summer night Bessie and I went to the State Fair and as we were walking around looking at everything, we came across this small booth with a table ... sitting on top of this table was this shallow, red container with a light shining on it ... I peered into it and saw a bunch of tiny, green turtles ... the man at the booth hollered 25cents each! I was fascinated with these little turtles, the way they were moving around in the water and how they were climbing on each other ... they were very cute! I stood by the table and kept staring at them ... until Bessie broke my concentration by asking me if I wanted one ... and of course ... I gave her a big YES!!   I still remembered the excitement I felt when I was picking out my turtle ... Because of Bessie's kind and thoughtful gestures I was probably the happiest little girl at the State Fair that night.  I will always cherish these memories.

To Bessie,

From the grand kids and great-grand kids.

I know grandma loved each and everyone of you very much. She wouldn't want us to be sad, for she lived a long accomplished life. She had a loving husband, long career, traveled the world, saw her 90th birthday and got to see her kids, grand kids and great-grand kids grow.

Bessie Yee Lee ... or to me, simply grandma.

Looking for words to describe her, I came up with: strong-willed, independent, stubborn, kind, loving, caring and funny.

Things I will miss ...

Who lets you stay overnight on the weekends ... Grandma
Who takes you shopping, bright and early on Saturday mornings ... Grandma
Who took you over to visit the relatives, so you got to know them and learned to play chess ... Grandma
Who taught you sew and cook ... Grandma
Who taught you to save a little money for a rainy day ... Grandma
Who taught you to fold your clothes the "right way", because she used to work in a laundry as a child ... Grandma (Especially after you've already folded them all.)
Who took you camping with the relatives ... Grandma

... Yes, I will miss all of it.

Messages from the great grand kids ...

Izzy: Thank you great grandma, for spending time with us, taking us to the park and watching us ride our bikes.
Alex: Thank you great grandma, for cooking me chicken noodle soup.
Lucas: Thank you great grandma, for visiting Paris when I was born.

Messages from the grand kids ...

Jaime: Thank you for the stories that you shared, the sewing you did and the love and care you gave. You have taught and done so much for me! Thanks grams!
Serena: Thank you grandma, for re-upholstering my big chair.
Jason: Thank you grandma, for taking care of me as a kid.
Jeremy: There are not enough thank you's in the world, simply thank you for everything.

Everyone in this world is unique and she was definitely one of a kind. Going through her old photos, one thing was clear, her love of family, whether it's caring for nieces and nephews on the farm, going camping with her siblings and kids or traveling with her own family, she was always there. 

Part of me would want the youthful grandma here with us forever. But sadly, time stops for no one. As much as I would like her here with us, I know that grandpa has been too long without her and they belong together. In a world where people want to bring you down, she was one of the ones that loved you, unconditionally, since the day you were born, no matter what. The  stubbornness I get from her, tells me, I can be as sad as I want too.

As the great grand-kids would say, when video chatting with her: "Love you, miss you great-grandma."

Thank you, everyone for your love and support.

Even though I never met Bessie, from what I know of her son Ken, and what he expressed, Bessie was a beautiful woman inside and out.   she raised wonderful children with strength and love.  She will be missed and always remembered.  My prayers are with her family.  God is close to the brokenhearted and rescues those who's spirits are crushed.

"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going." John 14:1 – 4  

Bessie, I will look forward to the day we are able to meet.

I've spent a good portion of my childhood with Bessie at the ranch on the outskirt of Sacto..... once a month she would drive me over to Aunt Rosie's house so I can visit with my cousin Marie. Sometimes, with Aunt Rosie's  permission I got to stay overnight and that was nice. The next day, Marie and I would walk around the block to this 5&10 store where she always found cute little things to buy for me and of course this made me happy!!......After Bessie found out how much I've enjoyed visiting with my cousin, she consciously made an effort to increase my visits to at least twice a month. I've always appreciated her thoughtfulness and her kind gesture.I will forever cherish these memories.

One summer night Bessie and I went to the State Fair and as we were walking around looking at everything we came across this small booth with a table......sitting on top of this table was this shallow,red container with a light shining on it....I peered into it and saw a bunch of tiny,green turtles.... the man at the booth hollered 25 cents each! I was fascinated with these little turtles, the way they were moving around in the water and how they were climbing on each other....they were very cute! I stood by the table and kept staring at them....until Bessie broke my concentration by asking me if I wanted one...and of course...I gave her a big YES!!   I still remembered the excitement I felt when I was picking out my turtle......Because of Bessie's kind and thoughtful gestures I was probably the happiest little girl at the State Fair that night.  I will always cherish these memories.

I remember her from the computer school.  Very good person, (nice pictures).  My thoughts are with her family.

How lucky I am to have been given the chance to meet and get to know Bessie.  She and her son Ken, were classmates at McClaskey Adult Center, in the Upholstery Class.  Bessie could sew anything, from delicate material to vinyl (car upholstery) and she would do it with extreme expertise and not stop until she was finished. She subsequently joined the group of ladies, and men, that continued our upholstery class at my home each Wednesday and Thursdays.  Bessie drove until just last spring. Amazing! Bessie shared with me her momentos from working at the DMV and many stories of how she won awards and commendations from Govenors Reagon and Deukmejian.  She was a remarkable young career woman. She was precise and disciplined, which always appeared when she was at "class".  Bessie had a great sense of humor also, appearing timid, but hardly, when she wanted to share something or get my attention.  I will miss her  dearly, and so will our class.  We looked forward each week so her arrival, down two sets of stairs never complaining or stopping to take a rest. Bessie also made the "best" coffee! I loved to see her laugh when I would tell her that.  Goodbye dear friend.  We will think of you often and allow memories of you to cheer our spirits.  Much love.....

Bessie was part of our camera group that took field trips for photo shoots. We all enjoyed her company.   She was a sweet lady with a ready smile.  We will miss her.  God bless.
Betty Satow

     I was Bessie's instructor for the Small Appliance Repair Class.  What good times we had repairing the appliances she would bring to class.  She was eager to learn how to fix her hairdryer, or mixer, or heater, or whatever,  but not always eager to learn the electrical stuff!!  I don't think she ever missed a pot luck which we often had on special occasions...yes, Howard, she liked to bring her wontons there also.  And we sure enjoyed them.

I remember Bessie when she worked at DMV.  I really loved the pictures.  Thanks for sharing.  She made a lot of good memories we can all cherish. Peace and love to the family.

I remember Bessie well. My thoughts and prayers go to the family.

I was in the  computer class for many years and enjoyed Bessie and ALL the so very nice Asian women who were also enrolled.  I can still hear them softly laughing amongst themselves as they worked on their computers.  You were all blessed to have her in your lives for 90 years and I am sure you have many, many happy memories to make this time easier for all of you.  Shirley Rock

Please accept my condolences for your loss. Bessie was one of my first students in the Older Adult Computer Class at McClaskey. She enjoyed all of the classes there. On special occasions when we would have a classroom party she would bring massive amounts of Fried Won Tons and sauce. Bringing me extras. She was a joy as a student but more of a joy as a friend.

May your hearts be filled with sweet memories that you can cherish always.

Jeremy, our prayers and love go out to you and your family during this difficult time. We are truly sorry for your loss and pray that God fills and surrounds you all with His peace and love.

Jeremy: I know how much you  loved your grandmother. You all did what you can when she was here. Life is a journey and after that we must all return home. Hope you and your brother and sisters have the strength to carry on. May your grandmother's soul rest in peace.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. Take comfort in knowing that Mrs. Bessie Yee Lee is at peace and now lives on through each of you.

Mrs. Bessie Lee, thank you for your guidance and influence over your grandson, Jeremy Fong. He is a very thoughtful and caring person that I am fortunate to call a friend.

OBITUARIO

Bessie Yee Lee

9 mayo, 1923 – 20 agosto, 2013

Harry A. Nauman & Son

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