Les souvenirs et condoléances pour la famille Yim Lee peuvent être partagés sur www.Centrefunerairecotedesneiges.com.On early Saturday morning, 9/17/2022, Helen Yim Lee Szeto Jay, crossed over the rainbow bridge. She suffered from progressive dementia since 2011, and experienced 2 strokes in her last 2 months. Her eldest daughter, Annie Jay, moved mountains to fulfill our mother’s wish to remain in her home as she aged. She died peacefully in her sleep in her own bed, in our family home, in Montreal.
Helen was born in Guandong, China on November 18th, 1941, to Kwan Man Wan and Szeto Wing. British teaching nuns gave her an English name which she did not like, so she named herself, Helen (of Troy). Leaving elementary school for lack of tuition, Helen worked counting pills in a pharmacy and earned 15 cents per week. She was allowed to keep 5 cents for herself and gave the remainder to her mother to help sustain the family. On July 26th, 1959, Helen married Jin Gune Jay, and promptly immigrated to Montreal, Canada. Together, they achieved the dream of a home with a white picket fence, and created Annie, Tony, and Jeannie. In 1974, Helen and Jin Gune opened the South Pacific Restaurant in Ville Émard, Montreal, where we all worked for many years. Helen was predeceased by Jin Gune Jay on June 25th, 1986. She carried on with the business until it was sold in 1989.
Helen was known to many in Chinatown as a good friend to have along for important appointments for her ability to translate between English and Cantonese. She also used her tremendous natural business acumen to help friends negotiate terms of loans and mortgages with bank representatives.
Helen was a curious traveller as she explored various destinations such as Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Costa Rica, and various places across the United States.
Helen was a survivor. She was the best mother she knew how to be. She worked hard, budgeted, and saved enough to not only send money home to her family and Jin Gune’s family, but also to help make the restaurant happen. She was a shrewd and determined business woman, a wise investor, a scary negotiator, and an enthusiastic fourth direction for Mah Jong.
Helen was proud to be a grandmother to twins Matthew & Timothy, and Emma. She was thrilled to be a great-grandmother to Haley, Jennifer, Evelyn, and Eli. Helen is also survived by her older sister, Lily Jong, and 2 younger brothers Michael Szeto and Stephen Szeto.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, in memory of Helen Jay. We thank the CLSC and the Mortimer B. Jewish General Hospital for their support and service.
A celebration of Helen’s life will be held at Dignité Centre Funéraire Côte-Des-Neiges on Monday October 3rd, from 1-6pm. Her ashes will be interned the following day at the adjacent cemetery at 2:30pm.
Leave the Light On (2006) Chis Smither
If I were young again I'd pay attention
To that little known dimension
the taste of endless time
Just like water it runs right through our fingers
But the flavor of it lingers
like a rich red wine
In those days we were single
& we lived them one by one
Now we hardlysee'em theydon't walk they run
But I got plenty left I've set my sight on
Don't wait up leave the light on
I'll be home soon
I never seen my life in such a hurry
But if I stop to worry
I get left behind
It's like a party but you don't get invitations
& there's just one destination
you better be on time
For years we rhymed in couplets
& we sang 'em two by two
now we hardly rhyme at all but here's a few:
& if they hurt there's bullets left to bite on
Don't wait up leave the light on I'll be home soon
That drummer in my head needs inspiration
There's a lack of syncopation
that holds me to a line
It's just sohard toleave these cages that we think in
By stages we just sink in to a slow decline
For years we lived & waltzed the time
& we danced 'em 3 by 3
Now it's hard to dance but if you stick with me
We've got what we need to spend the night on
Don't wait up leave the light on I'll be home soon
These races that we've run were not for glory
No moral to the story
we run for peace of mind
But the race we're running now is never ending
Since space & time are bending
there's no finish line
But I'll live to be a hundred I was born in forty-four
Thirty-nine to go but I ain't keepin’ score
I've been left for dead before but I still fight on
Don't wait up leave the light on I'll be home soon
Helen Jay’s first name was Yim Lee Szeto
#2 girl couldn’t be beat though
No one could keep her down
Patriarchy so she quit before the 5th grade
To work the pharmacy trade
One grandma’s feet were bound
In those days she was happy
playing with her cousin Kwan
But chairman Mao’s red army came and
Happy days were gone
Her family fled to Hong Kong like so many
Almost left her like a penny
In the tray by the cash
At 16 she got married to a stranger
Did she fear any danger
As the plane took her away?
A giant panda stuffy on her lap the whole flight
A prize from carnival night
A gift from Jin Gune Jay
She stayed home raised 2 kids
& learned some English from tv
Sewed fur collars onto coats & had her own Bube
Then Expo ’67 Man & His World
White gloves and hair slightly curled
Welcome to Montreal
Turned out Jin Gune picked out the right partner
Couldn’t find one any smarter
To help him with his dream
The South Pacific Restaurant kept us all busy
The hours made us dizzy there’s no “I” in team
For years like 2 ships passing
to keep one boss on the floor
To safeguard against profits
leaving out the back door
They hustled night and day to make it happen
And she carried on without him for 4 more years
Helen you were sharp and you were funny
But when it came to money
You never messed around
Made investments like King Midas only shrewder
One star cheated and we booed her
Life lessons abound
But you lived to be near 80 no one knows your
year of birth
We’re grateful you and dad met for our time here
on Earth
If there’s more to life than this one see you later
There’s been no privilege greater
Than to be your kid
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