Ms. Sau Jing Chan, born on August 14, 1922 in Taishan of Canton China, was the youngest of three daughters. Despite only having six years of private schooling, Ms. Chan was respected for her passion in literature and as a talented seamstress. She was known to be kind and helpful, always being the first one to contribute whenever anyone needed help.
In 1940, she married Mr. Tsung Yick Chan and started a new chapter in their lives with the birth of three daughters and a son. She raised all four children while her husband traveled in search of a better future for everyone. In 1979, she was fortunate enough to immigrate to the United States to reunite with her husband, embarking on a brand-new life in an unfamiliar territory. Without knowing any English, she quickly found a job at a handbag factory, utilizing her skills and expertise as a seasoned seamstress.
As the family matriarch, she selflessly took care of her four children and ten grandchildren by instilling everyone with life lessons and family values. Ms. Chan and her husband were also active members of the local Chinese community through the Gee How Oak Tin Chan’s Association.
On September 10, 2019, Ms. Sau Jing Chan passed peacefully, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, at the age of 100. She will be remembered as a supportive wife, a caring mother, and a loving grandmother and great-grandmother.
Rest in peace! You will live in our hearts forever!
馬素貞女士1922年8月14日出生於廣東省台山市白沙鎮坑尾村,她是家中三個女兒中排行第三。她父親很想有一個兒子,故此為她取乳名叫”徐娣”,希望下一個寶寶是弟弟。她自小就聰明伶俐,在校讀書的時候,成績總是名列前茅。雖然只讀了六年私塾學校,但她的語文知識卻非常豐富。
1940年,她與陳松益先生結婚,並育有三個女兒和一個兒子。在中國大陸期間,馬素貞女士是村中一位出了名的好人。每當村里或親戚或鄰俚有什麼困難時,她總是鼎力幫助,出錢出力。她還有一手裁縫的好手藝。在鄉間的時候,常常毫無怨言地擠出時間來幫村里的人裁剪、改衫和車衫。她對人善良、和靄可親、樂意助人,這是她一生的美德,在村中人裡有口皆碑。
1978年,中國改革開放初始,國門漸開,馬素貞女士有幸在1979年初春移民來到美國砵崙與丈夫團聚。上埠不久,人生地不熟,英語又一竅不通,但憑她的聰明才幹,很快就在一家西人開辦的皮手袋廠找到一份工作。她裁縫的好手藝再次得到施展,其他工友及工頭對她贊不絕口。
馬素貞女士對丈夫體貼入微,是丈夫的賢內助。丈夫服務於華人社團及陳氏至孝篤親公所幾十年,她在背後的默默支持及鼓勵,盡顯無遺。她對子女及兒孫也是無微不至的關懷,常常諄諄教導他們做人的道理,教導他們勤懇學習和工作,力求上進。大家也不負她所望,在學習和工作中都取得好成績。
2019年9月10日,馬素貞女士在醫院急救室掄救無效,無痛苦地安祥離世,享年100歲。她是一位好妻子、一位好母親、一位令人尊敬的好奶奶、好外婆、好曾外婆。
安息吧,一路走好!您永遠活在我們的心中!
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