May Lan Yu

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of May-Lan Yu (余美蘭)，87 years old, on December 26, 2020 at the Chinese Hospital in Montreal( 滿地可中華醫院) surrounded by her loving family. She will be dearly missed. May-Lan Yu(余美蘭)was born on June 28, 1933 in Indonesia. She was born as the daughter of the late Bing Yu( 余炳) and the late Ah-Ho Lee( 李阿好) and the sister of 11 siblings. May-Lan (美蘭) was also a beloved wife, devoted mother, caring grandmother, loving aunt, faithful cousin, and wonderful friends of many, as she touched the lives of those around her with her kindness. May-Lan (美蘭) is survived by her husband Wing-Lok Lo( 盧永犖) and their children and children in law, Yat-Ching Stephen( 逸清), Eddy Yat-Ho( 逸豪) and Suzanne Chan( 陳淑慈), Betty Pik-Ha( 碧霞) and Desmond Yu( 余啓祥), Yat Keung ( 逸強)and Clara Kwan( 關靜兒) and the late Linda(碧玲). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Evelyn Lo ( 盧嘉韻), Curtis Lo (盧冠亨), Justin Yu( 余承澤 ) and Thomas Lo ( 盧冠霖). The family would like to express their thanks and deepest gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff for their devotion and care that they provided to May-Lan during her time at the Chinese Hospital. In lieu of flowers, please consider providing a donation in her memory to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

https://www.alzheimer.ca/en

訃聞：

我們沉痛宣佈，

余美蘭女仕於公元二零二零年十二月二十六日,於滿地可中華醫院逝世，享年八十七歲。

余美蘭,她除了是一個體貼賢淑的妻子,盡心盡力的母親, 照顧有加的祖母, 關愛良善的姨母和姑母之外，她更是左鄰右里的好鄰居及每一個人的善心朋友。

美蘭仙遊,留下了丈夫盧永犖。大兒子逸清偕孫女嘉韻, 二兒子逸豪兒媳陳淑慈偕孫兒冠亨與冠霖,三女兒碧霞女婿余啓祥偕外孫余承澤,四兒子逸強偕兒媳關靜兒, 及亡女碧玲。

我們家人在此感謝中華醫院護理同人,在過去的五年的悉心照顧。我們希望大家能對余美蘭的懷念作出善舉，請捐增予加拿大阿兹海默症協會。

公告.

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Eulogy for May-Lan Yu, by her daughter Betty Lo

My Mom was our pillar when we were growing up. She was our rock. She was a super woman.

She was born in Indonesia, got married at a young age and became a mother of five. The third one being me.

Mom left her Mom and 11 siblings to move to Hong Kong with us, to join my Dad’s family. Being a very traditional woman. It became her duty to take care of her extended family.

Eleven years later, our family moved again to Montreal, on March 7, 1971, to witness one of the biggest snow storms in Montreal’s history.

Learn French, make money and to survive in a totally foreign country became a necessity, not a choice. I still remember the way she pronounced French, pretending it just was not Chinese. She needed to work as a seamstress in a factory to help the family. And, of course, she was still a housewife, mother of five, wife of my dad and the caregiver of four generations living in the same house. What a culture shock and what a cultural burden, all on the shoulder of a tiny woman of five feet one, that is. My mom did everything. She never complained.

My Mom was a simple woman. when we were well and happy, she was happy and more than happy. She dedicated her whole life to us. She worked hard already, and work harder overtime to buy us delicious treats. She was so selfless. She wanted us to be Canadian. She learned to make Turkey and spaghetti. The five children were everything to her. When the youngest one, my sister died suddenly in 2001, it was a blow for her. Yet she marched on with dignity.

She took care of relatives too. A few of my cousins came to lived with us for a little while, she welcomed them with open arms until they settled down in Montreal. She helped, she provided, and she never ask anything for return.

Life might be difficult, but my mom believed in life, and luck as an element of life. In Mom’s retirement years, Mom loved to spend time with her grandchildren. Besides that, she loved to play 6/49 and Banco. Each morning, she studied the patterns and the numbers before choosing them. She only spent the minimum to play. Often, my Dad took my Mom to casino; my Mom loved the slot machine but she never spent much. Mom also loved watching Hong Kong TV drama. These were her favourite past times.

Mom loved my husband’s cooking. She thought Desmond was the best chef in the family. We were grateful that we had the chance to invite my parents to our home for dinner before she fell really sick. We had a great time together.

My Mom taught me respect others, love, give, forgive and serve generously.

Mom, you are my hero. Without any family from your side, for support or advice, you had the courage to make all the decisions in our family when we were growing up. There was a lot of suffering, and you managed to keep the family together and marched on. I wish I had your strength.

I lost my mother, not physically, about 5 years ago to the horrible disease of Alzheimer. She could not walk, then she lost her speech, then she lost her memory and forgot who we were. Her body was there, and we couldn’t communicate any more. Finally, she forgot how to swallow. I missed my Mom, the Mom who told me about her joys and her pain, the Mom who confided in me, the Mom who was my friend, the Mom who loved me unconditionally in spite of all my shortcomings. I will always love you and you will always be in my heart.

Mom, It was so difficult to see you suffer the last five years. Especially for Dad who went to see you daily at the Chinese Hospital and also my brother Yat Ching a number of times per week. Mom, now that your sufferings have ended and you are with our Lord, you are in a good place with my sister who will be there to take care of you.

May you rest in peace.

p.s. I want to thank my husband Desmond and my son Justin in helping me with the eulogy and the slides to celebrate my Mom’s life.