Mrs. Ming Fa Hong Yu

To Ming Fa Yu, 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 Ming Fa, 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. Ming Fa really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Ming Fa was born on December 25, 1919 at home, in Changsha, China. Her parents were Z. G. Hung and F. C. Lim. Ming Fa was raised in Changsha, China. Even as a child, Ming Fa 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, Ming Fa 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, Ming Fa managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Ming Fa was raised with five sibling, one brother and four sisters.

All of Ming Fa'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, Ming Fa experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in dancing and singing. In her spare time she liked playing Mahjong.

Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Ming Fa was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Ming Fa simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Ming Fa, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Ming Fa's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Ming Fa graduated from ZhouNam School in Changsha, China in 1936. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.

Ming Fa never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Ming Fa to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Ming Fa delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Ming Fa was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Ming Fa utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of her best friends were H. M. Chen. Later in life, she became friends with Jean Lei. Ming Fa loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Ming Fa 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 marriage.

Ming Fa married Pak Ham and were blessed with 10 children with seven surviving her, four sons, David, Peter, Peter and John; and 3 daughters, Lily, Anna and Mary. Ming Fa 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. Ming Fa'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, Ming Fa had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

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

Ming Fa had an endless appetite for new and different activities. She was always ready to join in the fun and add her flair and energy to an organization. Because of her personality, her humor, and her ability to get along with everyone, Ming Fa's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which she belonged. Throughout her later years, Ming Fa was an active member with the Legion of Mary.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Ming Fa recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in San Diego, California.

Living life in the fast lane suited Ming Fa 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 China, Europe and Taiwan.

Ming Fa believed that you had to experience life, and her life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 1980, Ming Fa took it in stride as one more way to have fun. Her new life involved relocating from China to the San Francisco, California. With her boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Ming Fa remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, she found new pleasure in living in San Diego, California. Even in retirement, Ming Fa 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.

Ming Fa passed away on December 6, 2010 at Paradise Valley Hospital in National City, California. She is survived by her four sons; three daughters; 16 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Visitation and Vigil was held on Friday, December 17, 2010 at Conrad Lemon Grove Mortuary. Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 10 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in San Diego, California. Ming Fa was laid to rest in with her husband Pak Ham in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in San Diego, California.

Ming Fa 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. Ming Fa Yu lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.