Yok Ying Szeto Wong

WONG, Yok Ying Szeto, 94, passed away on January 15, 2013. Beloved wife of late Tinlup Wong. Devoted mother-in-law of Margaret Li. Loving grandmother of Samuel Wong, David Wong. Loving sister of Yok Ching Szeto Yee, sister-in-law of Sue Ying Tse.

Yok Ying was born in Hoiping China in 1918 to a large family. Due to her family’s affluence, she was able to attend 6 years of school at a time when it was not deemed necessary for woman to receive an education.

Yok Ying married Tinlup Wong whose family had businesses overseas in Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines as well as a farm in China. He and his brothers frequently traveled overseas on business, and they were not home very often. While the men were traveling, Yok Ying’s mother-in-law managed the family’s business and farm. Her mother-in-law assigned jobs to her four daughters-in-law that included working on the farm and keeping the house in good order.

Yok Ying worked for the first time in her life under her mother-in-law’s watchful eyes. She never had to work in her home until she married into her husband’s family. At first she struggled to do the work, but she was able to learn fast and adapt to her new life. As a result of Yok Ying’s competence, her mother-in-law assigned her the responsibility of managing the whole household. Yok Ying took care of her family through the Japanese invasion of China and the Chinese Civil Revolution periods without her husband by her side. In fact, she arranged for the whole family to move out of China to either Hong Kong or overseas to escape the Chinese Communist Government. She was a strong woman and a survivor with good management skills and ingenuity.

Tinlup Wong and Yok Ying immigrated to the United States of America in the mid 1960’s and faced new challenges. He worked in the restaurant business while she worked as a seamstress. They both worked hard for their family. Tinlup Wong died at a young age in 1976, leaving Yok Ying with their only son, Robert. She worked hard as a single mother to raise Robert, and with help from his mother, Robert was able to graduate from college. After finding employment, Robert married Margaret Li and they had two children whose names are Samuel and David.

Some of Yok Ying’s fondest memories were from the time she lived with her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. It was her greatest treasure. Unfortunately it came to an end when she lost her only child at a young age.

Although Yok Ying did not know much English, she managed to interact with her English speaking neighbors and made friends with many of them. She had a daily routine that included morning and afternoon coffee with snacks, attending to her garden, walking, and watching videos.

A strong woman that left a legacy, Yok Ying will be missed by her daughter-in-law Margaret and her two loving grandsons, Samuel and David. She is also survived by her younger sister and sister-in-law.

A Chinese service will be held on Saturday, January 19, at 12 Noon at Boston Harborside Home of JS Waterman & Sons-Waring-Langone. Family will receive relatives and friends at 9:00 AM prior the service. Interment at Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston. Parking attendants on duty.