Whenever our family brings up Mama, the adjectives diligent, courageous, generous and loving never left the chat. I am left in awe of the stories I've been told about how she helped numerous ppl and toiled day and night with Yeye to provide for the family「 殺出一條血路」(mom), making many sacrifices along the way. I feel sad that by fate we couldn't spend a lot of time together. Still, I am honored to be one of her granddaughter and I hope I can grow to have a fraction of her strong spirit, maturity, and heart of gold.

This Summer 2022 in Vancouver rained a lot.
Mama was beautiful even in death.
She was a joyful exclamation in history, and will stay forever immortal in our memories 💕

Hi, I am the eldest granddaughter of Man Fong. Christy and James and I all miss Mama dearly. I remember once when Mama and Yeye were visiting our family in hk, they brought Christy and I to a craft shop near our house, and I can recall Mama telling us we could buy whatever we want. In the end we checked out the upper level of the shop for a while and brought a bottle of glitter and a Chinese shuttlecock before going home. This was a funny but happy memory💜

Mrs. Man Fong, is my aunt, sister of my mother. Although we had not contacted for long time, her image was deeply stayed in my mind. She bought me the first gaming console of my life, when I was a young child. She supported our family not only financially but by her heart. 
I appreciated her character and mentality. Hope we will meet in the heaven. 



My mother was born in 1935, from Chaoyang Xiashan, Guangdong.  In 1948, due to political turmoil, she moved from her hometown to live in Hong Kong with his parents.
         After coming to Hong Kong, my mother worked hard and worked as an apprentice in the garment industry, studying and working hard.  In 1970, she married her husband Hee Sum Yip, whom she had known for more than ten years, and had three sons after marriage. Man Fong and Hee Sum worked hard to establish their own garment factory.  Starting a business was difficult, but maintaining a business was even more difficult, With perseverance, my parents had overcomed difficulties time and time again.
         In 1985, our family immigrated to Canada, and my mother shuttled between Canada and Hong Kong to work hard for the family.  In 1993, she was finally able to settle down and reunite with our family and start another phase of her life in Vancouver.  After the three sons got married and established their own families, the parents gradually entered retirement and lived a simple life.
         Earlier this year, my mother felt unwell and was diagnosed with leukemia.  During the arduous treatment process, relying on the grace and love of the Lord Jesus, my mother fought against the disease with a spirit of never giving up. In the end, the operation was successful and she went home to recuperate, spending a very happy moment in time with her family.  On July 25, my mother suddenly felt unwell in her lungs and was sent to the hospital for treatment. It was delayed until the morning of July 31. She was received by the Lord and passed away peacefully.
         Mom was humble, strict with herself and tolerant with others, serious, persistent and trustworthy.  She had been caring for her husband, teaching her sons by example, filial piety to elders, caring for relatives and friends, cherishing children and grandchildren.  She was a virtuous woman, a mother we admire and love very much.

Mrs Yip was a dearly loved member of the Yip family. As an in-law married to her niece Virginia, I was always made to feel welcome at the home of Mr & Mrs Yip in Vancouver, as were our children Timmy, Sophie and Alicia. We appreciated her gracious hospitality and expert cooking (her salmon congee was a fusion favourite). Known to us by her Chiu Chow kinship term 'Ah Go', she was always cheerful and happy to explain Chiu Chow terms to me as I sought to learn the dialect.  We admired her dedication to exercising even after she was no longer able to enjoy mountain walking. She was blessed by a large family who will cherish her memory.


This is from  Kasen Yip (Patrick and Linda Yip’s son who is a rising junior in University of Chicago):

Gogo, I’m very fortunate to be part of a family that has such strong matriarchs like you. Although we were never extremely close due to geographical and language barriers, I always felt lucky to know that I’d always be protected by my elders, including you. One of my core memories in life, that includes you, and I remember this so clearly, was on one of our trips to Vancouver. Everyone else was asleep and I was alone in my room playing a video game on the mini ipad our family had at the time. You came in and I immediately hid the ipad because I thought you’d get mad at the fact that I wasn’t sleeping, but you just stuck your head in and was genuinely worried that I wasn’t falling asleep. You then told me that you’d pray for me to fall asleep and left. I don’t remember if I just continued gaming, but I do know I fell asleep afterwards, and woke up the next day eating your cereal.

This is from Lucia Yip (Patrick and Linda Yip’s daughter who is about to complete her masters program in Columbia University in New York):


Gogo, 
You were a woman who loved so deeply and showed it as often as you could. I am beyond grateful that I was able to visit you for many summers. I will never forget the delicious meals you cooked and the love and laughter we shared. You let Kasen and I run around the house and play hide and seek, binge watch The Fresh Prince of Bel Air in the basement and I remember most fondly the one summer you bought me blue ice cream. My mom always told me not to get that flavor but I really wanted to try it. You heard me talk about it and walked me to the store to buy it. It tasted so good because we worked as a team to keep it a secret. I thought you were so cool. I hope you know that you mattered to me and that I wish I had gotten to see you once more. I love you ❤️

I had the privilege of having a meal with her a few weeks ago at home when she appeared energetic and in good spirits having been discharged from the hospital only a few days ago. She was happy to be back at home with the company of the family members. She kept talking nonstop in an animated way about the bright side of her experience at the hospital, how the doctors and nurses were so kind to her and how she felt fortunate to enjoy the medical and family support. Her smiles and stories will always be cherished in my heart. She fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith and the crown of righteousness is in store for her (cf. 2 Timothy 4:6-8).

When I think of her and her legacy, I think of the virtuous woman depicted in Proverbs 31: "her husband had full confidence in her and their children rose up and called her blessed". A smart, strong, and capable woman, she was the epitome of what it means to be a virtuous woman. Her presence and influence during my childhood and adulthood have been positive and enduring. I'll miss her and remember her with tremendous love and respect. My hope is that we will see each other again in the presence of the Lord as Christians believe.


Virginia Yip

Mrs Man Fong Yip was my aunt, the wife of my paternal uncle. As her niece I feel blessed to have known her as a kind and loving aunt all my life since childhood.  She occupied a special place in my heart as her life was exemplary as a dedicated wife, mother, aunt and friend who was loving and kind to everyone around her. She was devoted to her church and invited me and my husband Steve to attend the service which we enjoyed. She was blessed and grateful to have the strong support of the church friends especially during the past few months.

More than 30 years ago, she had the admirable foresight and made the wise and audacious decision to bring her family to Canada, and Vancouver in particular. I remember the first few months with great fondness when I accompanied my uncle, aunt and their three young sons William, Sam and Ronnie to Canada where the family continues to grow and thrive. We thank God for His abundant blessings for the entire family over the years. 
Virginia Yip 

I am Tim, the eldest son of Gogo’s niece, Virginia Yip. Gogo, thank you for your kindness and compassion, for taking care of me and all of us and welcoming us. We enjoyed beautiful summers in the British Columbia exploring Vancouver with you and your family. You were always kind to me and always made me feel comfortable and at peace in your home. I often admired your morning Tai Chi practices and would sometimes wake up early and see you exercising, and thought, I wanted to do that as well. You inspire me to this day. Blessings unto you forever!
Tim

We are William Quan and Katherine Quan, the son and daughter of Sui Ling Quan, (Ling Jie) and we are family friends. 
Some of our fondest memories growing up were the time we spent with Mrs. Yip and her family. Whether it was dinners we cooked together or ordered in, or her inviting us to pick the plums and apples from the trees in her backyard, Mrs. Yip always welcomed us with her bright smile. Through the years, the love and care she showed us made an impression on the adults we wanted to become. Our mother always said she has never met someone more kind or selfless than Mrs. Yip.   As we have grown up into adults ourselves we truly believe this statement is still true today.  Thank you Mrs. Yip for all of the love and support you have provided us over the years. We  will miss you dearly.

I am Alicia, the younger daughter of Virginia Yip who is Mrs Man Fong Yip's niece. Gogo, thank you for all the summers at your beautiful home. Staying in your basement playing wii is one of my happiest childhood memories I will never forget. 

You were so gentle and lovely. I feel so proud and lucky to be part of your extended family. I will always admire and respect you for your conscientiousness, gracefulness and strength.

You were a fighter. Visiting you in the hospital broke my heart, but you persevered the best you could even after going through so much pain. 

You were also a great cook. I remember tasting your delicious crispy pancake dish. You fed me pizza and skim milk, accommodating to my picky eating.

You are a fantastic role model and I wish to live my life more like you. You will be remembered fondly as a beautiful woman both inside and out.

May Jesus keep your memory eternal and continue to bless your family!

Alicia Matthews

I am the older daughter of Gogo’s niece, Virginia Yip. Gogo was a remarkable person - a mother to all, who extended herself with gentleness and kindness to everyone she came in contact with. I will always remember her hospitality, her generosity, and desire to connect with me despite geographical distance (I have lived in Hong Kong & Los Angeles, USA for most of my life). Whenever I needed a place to stay in Vancouver, Gogo and her husband Jik Jik embraced me with open hearts and allowed me to stay in their beautiful home. Gogo always made sure that I had enough coins for the bus, always checked in to say goodnight, and always made sure we were all happily fed. I admired her discipline and enjoyment of simple things - like exercising with Jik Jik every morning, picking figs off the trees in her garden, maintaining an immaculate environment, and watching her favourite Cantonese soaps at night. What a blessing she was to our family - she will be dearly missed.
Sophie Matthews

Ah Go, 多謝您對我的愛護，帶我去剪髮，買公仔，從沒駡過我們，對每個家人都有愛心，沒說別人的是非，默默耕耘，有成功的事業，退休後仍學習英文，好學不倦。您靠著主堅忍地經過多次手術與治療，您已行完人生的旅程，雖不捨得，但將來天家再聚!

Mom, you’ve been simply the best mother-in-law I could ever imagine. Wise, generous, always accommodating, and thinking about others, you were an exemplary woman transcending love and comfort, a personification of the following verse:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law” – Galatians 5:22-23.
It’s with mixed emotions that I am saying goodbye to you. I regret not having a chance to have a more in-depth conversation due to language barriers. I am sorry that I could not come to visit more often and be by your side when you were battling cancer. I did not have a chance to travel with you and take more pictures together. But regardless of all that, I know you truly loved me, prayed for me, and wished me well. I am grateful to have known you; you impacted our lives significantly. I will forever hold onto our memories because forever they will remain.

My name is Dan Yip.  I am Man Fong (“Ah Go”)’s nephew.  

I remember back in 1985/1986 after Ah Go’s family moved to Canada, Ah Go still kept flying back to HK alone to manage the garment factory, which became the hallmark of her career success and undoubtedly the fortress for the whole extended family.
Very often, when she came back home after a long day at the factory, she loved to listen to one song, which was one of her most favorite ones (apart from the hymns), as far as I know.

（徐小鳳 順流逆流）

不知道在那天邊可會有盡頭/
只知道逝去光陰不會再回頭/
每一串淚水伴每一個夢想/
不知不覺全溜走/
不經意在這圈中轉到這年頭/
只感到在這圈中經過順逆流/
每顆冷酷眼光 共每聲友善笑聲/
默然一一嘗透/
幾多艱苦當天我默默接受/
幾多辛酸也未放手/
故意挑剔今天我不在乎/
只跟心中意願去走/
不相信未作犧牲竟先可擁有/
只相信是靠雙手找到我欲求/
每一串汗水換每一個成就/
從來得失我睇透//


（Paula Tsui  Upstream and downstream）
I don’t know if there is an end in the sky/
I just know that the time that has passed will never come back/
Every dream comes with every teardrop/
They slipped away unknowingly/
Inadvertently I have come this far/
I felt like I have been thru numerous upstreams and downstreams/
Every cold gaze, as well as friendly smile/
I accepted them silently/
I quietly accepted uncountable hardships/
I never gave up despite bitterness/
I am no longer annoyed by nitpicking/
I choose to go with my heart/
I don’t believe one can make achievement without sacrifice/
I just believe success is achieved with the work of our hands/
Every string of sweat in exchange for each accomplishment/
I manage to see thru gains and losses/


Needless to say, the lyrics to a certain extent reflect an aspect of Ah Go, No doubt she was a very tough and successful lady who treated her family and others with love and sincerity.  She is always our respectable and beloved aunt, forever.  Our whole family, Dan, Kennis, Darren and Derek, will truly miss her smile and kindness.  Our hope is to meet her again in the Lord one day.



阿G0，多謝妳從小愛錫我，妳會陪我剪髮，買洋娃娃，給我穿工廠的靚衫;從沒罵過我們，沒說過人是非，總是尊重每個人，常想到別人的需要，關心別人，移民後仍努力學習英文，我們會以妳為榜樣!我們都不捨得妳!

阿GO，回想三十多年與妳共事，不捨得妳的恩情!妳愛護我的子女,感激不盡!日後天家再見!願天父安慰妳一家都平安!




Dear Mom, 

you’ve been simply the best mother-in-law I could ever imagine. Wise, generous, always accommodating, and thinking about others, you were an exemplary woman transcending love and comfort, a personification of the following verse:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law” – Galatians 5:22-23.

It’s with mixed emotions that I am saying goodbye to you. I regret not having a chance to have a more in-depth conversation due to language barriers. I am sorry that I could not come to visit more often and be by your side when you were battling cancer. I did not get to travel with you and take more pictures together. But regardless of all that, I know you truly loved me, prayed for me, and wished me well. I am grateful to have known you; you greatly impacted our lives. I will forever hold onto our memories because forever they will remain.   Thank you.



Ah Go is our undisputed matriarch who had done so much for the Yip extended family! 

This is but one of the many memorable happy moments spent with Ah Go.

I am Patrick Yip, her nephew (my father’s younger brother is Hee Sum, Man Fong’s surviving husband).  Since my childhood, Man Fong (I called her “Ah Go” which means Aunt in the Chiu Chow dialect) had always been an important part of my life as we, for a long time, lived as an extended family under the same roof.  To me, ah Go was a remarkable woman in so many ways: intelligent, hardworking, loving, caring, selfless, humble and most importantly, always determined in pursuing worthwhile goals for the benefit of the extended family despite seemingly insurmountable challenges   I would have to say I owe my small achievements today (my education and career) in large part to Ah Go’s leadership over and contributions made to running our family business, which went from a sweat shop to a substantial business.  Ah Go, in my son Kasen’s words, was really a respected and loving matriarch of our extended family who protected and fostered the young, including me and my siblings.

OBITUARIO

Man Fong Yip 周文芳

1 septiembre, 1935 – 31 julio, 2022

Glenhaven Memorial Chapel

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