She was born and raised in Taishan, Canton, People’s Republic of China on June 13, 1927. As the oldest child in a family of seven, during World War II, she took on the responsibilities helping her parents and her younger siblings. She was an entrepreneur who sold antique clothing in the market place and even hired a helper to carry her goods when she made enough money to do so.
After World War II, she married her husband, On Wong (d. 1984) and moved to Hong Kong for better opportunities. She helped her husband run a home-based, self-started logistic company and became its secretary, bookkeeper and accountant. She also recruited most of her brothers to help run the business, while her sister and her mother cared for her children.
When her children were about to start school, she networked friends and Catholic nuns to get her children into prestigious catholic schools, as she knew that those schools would provide a good education and help to prepare the children for their future.
In their later years, she and her husband immigrated to the United States. While in the States, she was adamant on becoming a US Citizen, so she learned the questions and answers on the Citizenship Test through listening to tape recordings created by her daughter. She also learned new skills and became a seamstress until eventually retiring.
When retired, Kam enjoyed going to the Brookline Senior Center to show friends how to crochet and knit, while also learning some new knitting skills and crochet projects from her friends as well. She has been known to give her crochet hats and booties to relatives, friends and even her eye doctor.
Kam also enjoyed meeting friends at the Boston Chinese Evangelical Church. She became a Christian in the 90’s and enjoyed reading the Bible.
Kam is survived by her children Jennie (Leonard) of King of Prussia, PA; Betty (Tze-on) of Salem, MA, Maisy of Salem, MA, Edward (Stacey) of Toronto, Canada, and Bob of Denver, CO. She will be fondly remembered by her seven grandchildren Eric (Morgan) of Hendersonville, NC, Edwina of Silver Spring, MD, Jason (Jen) and Ryan (Rudi) of Toronto, Canada, Aliana of Denver, CO, Micaela (Dan) of Parker, CO, and Ashley of Phoenix, AZ; and ten great grandchildren Elijah, Lucas, Daisy, Ian, Audrey, Naomi, Harmoney, Isabel, Liam, and Oliva.
Kam is also survived by her brother Kam Chan Tam (Ana) of Brookline, MA, brother Kam Yin Tam of Boston, MA, sister Kam Ping Tam Ho of West Roxbury, MA and their children Lisa (Brad), Alan (Sue), Edward (Mai), Sandra (David), and John (Cindy).
The family will hold a celebration of life ceremony at the Walnut Hills Cemetery, Brookline, MA at noon on Thursday, March 26, 2020. Due to the corona virus, we ask that only immediate family attend.
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