Dear Grandpa,

I think of you every single day. Your camera sitting on my shelf in my home makes me feel safe and loved, the same way you have shown me every day when you came to take care of me when I was young.

One of my most favourite memory has always been sharing a cup of coffee with you and learning the lessons and stories that you shared of your past. Another favourite memory of mines has always been laying my head on your lap. There was no comparison of the love and safety I felt, it's always a special moment of mines.


Being your favourite grandson made me feel special and made me feel like I could do anything with success. Calvin and I miss you and love you very much. Thank you, thank you for everything you have given us. I love you so much, rest easy.

Love,
Ah Hong. 





My Grandpa! 

Andre and I will miss you very much. The memories you have created for us will last us a lifetime and will be passed on to generations. 

Thank you for taking care of us and helping us grow into the people we are now today. We are eternally grateful. Thank you for bringing us to Canada. 

All the love in the world, 

Calvin 



I have been thinking for a long time about how to write a memorial tribute to my dad.  It is difficult as I know no matter how many million "thank you" I said, it would never be enough to repay his love & caring.

I am his fourth child.  Among all my siblings, I got sick the most in my childhood.  And yet I still believe I am the luckiest and blessed child in the family. 

I came to Canada to continue my studies in the seventies.  Back then I just followed my elder sister's path, to apply to a high school and then a student visa at Canada Immigration Consulate. I got admitted successfully.  He was very proud of me because all I needed was his financial proof and the rest was done by myself.  He bought me a watch before I left for Canada.  His only advice to me was to work hard for a better future.  Little did I know until after graduation that he had to borrow money from my aunt at the beginning of my foreign study.  And I believed he also had to struggle to pay for my thyroid surgery in my first year of university, though it was never mentioned.

In addition, he volunteered to babysit my two children.  It was a great help to us as we just started our career.  No babysitter is better than our own parents.  He drove to our house every morning and took great care of my kids.  Without his help, we would have to take time off frequently, worry more at work and would not be able to perform well in our jobs. He had care for me since I was a child and also my children.

For a father of eight, his burden was enormous. All these years we certainly felt his caring, determination and strength for the family.  He was our protector, advisor, and guide. How greatly I was blessed to have a father like him.  How dearly each of us loved him. And oh, how he loved us all.


Loving Memories of Our Dear Dad

You held our hands 
when we were small,
You caught us when we fell,
The hero of our childhood
And of later years as well.

Every time we think of you
Our hearts just fill with pride.
And though we'll always miss you, Dad, we know you're by our side.

In laughter and in sorrow
In sunshine and in rain,
We know the Heavenly Father and 
you are watching over us
Until we meet again.

My father always welcomes his children with his radiant smile and gives them full attention when they come to him.  When I was a kid, I would call him at work to help me with my homework.  He showed me what infinite patience was when he taught me how to do three digits by two digits multiplication on the phone.  To comfort the crying me who couldn’t sleep at night,  he taught me the perfect way to fold my comforter that would keep me warm and help me to fall asleep.  With him, I felt safe and had no fear.  At times, I would get upset for not getting a perfect score in school, he would encourage me by saying, “Just do your best and forget the rest.”  These were few of the treasured moments I had 

with my father. 

He is wise and caring, strong but gentle, a man with the heart of gold.  He always compliments his children and forgives all their shortcomings.  It is a blessing from God that my father had such a fulfilling life and I am grateful to be his daughter.
    
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

Dad, I know we will meet again in Heaven.  You will greet me with your beaming smile, and I will wrap my arms around you and kiss your lovely face again.  Forever my love to you.

My dear father, there are so many things I want to say to you, but I don’t know where to start.  It was in the 1960s that I started working closely with you when you had your first garment factory in Hong Kong.  You worked hard and showed perseverance in the face of obstacles.  You were effective in problem solving and planning.  A great team leader who showed empathy to your staff.  All these attributes deeply imprinted in my heart.  Among all your children, I communicated with you the most.  When I was working in Hong Kong, I shared with you my daily life every week.  You taught me the proper attitude towards life and ways to conduct myself.  When I encountered difficulties at work, you gave me advice to resolve 

them.  I kept all these letters to this day and they are precious to me. 

Dad, thank you for your guidance in my career path.  With your constant encouragement and support, I had the advantage over other both at work and in life.  I am grateful for your unceasing support and accommodation.  Caring for you was my privilege but it was far too short, and ninety some years with you in our family rushed by too quickly. 

Now that you are in Heaven where there is no pain but joy.  May you rest in peace, and find total contentment in our Lord.  We will meet again in Heaven, Dad.  Forever, I love you and hold you close in my heart.

I don’t mourn the passing of my dad, in fact, I celebrate it. 

I celebrate a life well lived.  

A life that always set an example to me and teach me 
right from wrong. 

He is the one I look up to and 
he always encourages me to reach whatever goal I try to reach.  

Dad, I don’t mourn your passing, but my heart long for you dearly. 

Distance apart but never at heart,
Forever, I love you Dad.

I love my father dearly.  

I take pride in his words 
and deeds. 
He is the inspiration to 
all his children.
 
Although he is now in Heaven, 
he is always my good daddy. 
Miss you Dad, and
I love you forever.


Grandpa had shown me what true unconditional love and support means and some of the ways he had done this with me was having breakfast in the morning with me when I was young.  As a kid, I wanted what he had.  A cup of coffee and whatever he was eating at the time.  As a young boy, I thought to myself, I didn’t think that I was allowed to drink coffee at that age.  As soon as grandpa realized my desire, he let me had a cup with him, made exactly the way he had it for himself.  I felt very special at that time.

Visiting for family dinners was also quite memorable.  I always looked forward to resting my head on his lap and getting the best back scratches, then falling asleep 

before being told by my parents that it was time to go home.  I always hid my thoughts on the car ride home that I missed him and didn’t want to leave.  At times, I was lucky enough to be able to stay over for the night where we were able to spend just that much more time together.

Although there are many other happy memories, these are some of my most favourite ones.  Thank you for everything, grandpa.  I will continue to be the good teacher you tell me to be, to give my students some of the unconditional love you had shown me but most importantly, continue to be your favourite grandkid forever…


How will I remember my father.
 
Kind to his family, good to 
his friends.

Of all the words I think of, 
I think of dependable.
Among all his qualities, to me 
this stands out the most.

He counts on himself to provide, sometimes to a fault.
And so his family loves him, 
his friends trust him.

He frustrates and exhausts himself to balance his own interests 
with others', 
but never ceases to be trustworthy and reliable.



Beneath the veneer 
of a stern father,
I see a man who cares, 
only too reserved to show it.

Of all his flaws and imperfections that make all of us human,
I love, respect and remember my father precisely because of this.

And among all the good memories I have of my father,
this is how I will remember him.


I am blessed and grateful to God for giving me such a wonderful and loving father to my life. Thank you for all you do for every one of us. We love you so much Dad and I am so proud of you.

This poem best describes my feelings and what I believe in:

Broken Chain

We little knew that morning that
God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly, 
in death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you,
you did not go alone;
for part of us went with you,
the day God called you home.


You left us peaceful memories,
your love is still our guide;
and though we can not see you,
you are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken,
and nothing seems the same;
but as God calls us one by one,
the chain will link again.



My father-in-law will be remembered in my heart forever.

He was a devoted husband 
and father.
He was kind-hearted to everyone.
Although he has a big family with many children, he could take good care of everyone equally well.

One special thing that I must thank him so much for was his help in looking after my two sons Calvin & Andre, especially when they were babies.

Snow or shine, he drove almost an hour from the north side of the city to my home in the southside in order to babysit my two young sons.


As a result, Joyce and I could go to work without any worries. One thing for sure, without his help, we could not concentrate on our jobs and have our own careers.

It was because of his affection, dedication, caring, and teaching, both Calvin and Andre could grow up as kind-hearted adults like him.


I am grateful for you. 

You provided me the opportunities, helping me achieving all my goals, helping and guiding me through everything.

Thank you for being such a caring, compassionate, loving and 
most of all amazing father.


OBITUARY

Tak Jing Ma

February 6, 1926 – February 21, 2023

Hainstock's Funeral Home & Crematorium

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