Dad,  everyday I wonder what you are doing in heaven.  You must be enjoying your time with your 2 full grown sons.  You must have been hit with a ton of   joy when you met Jesus for the first time. It's great knowing that you are home.  No more pain, no more suffering.

Dad, your allergic reaction to medication has taught us to question every thing about medication and that the best medication is no medication.

Dad, the quiet time that I had with you on the day of your death, I will always cherish those moments. You gave me a gift that day and I didn't realize it till now.  When I came to the hospital that day and I saw you surrounded by death, I was so distraught.  I remember you holding my hands very very tightly as to comfort me even though I knew that you were very scared yourself.  It reminded me when I was a little girl and I could always depend on my Dad to take care of me. 

It's not easy to be an executor but Charlie is doing a great job. It is stressful but he is determined to carry out your wishes and take care of Mom.  Dad, you would be very proud of Charlie.

Dad, when I think of you I can't help but smile because I know where you are.  Until we meet again.

Annie Nishi

Dad, it's hard to believe that you have have  gone for a month now.  Time has really flown by. The funeral arrangements was the most stressful but once we decided
who to go with everything just fell into place,  We wanted to have a service that reflected who you were to us.  

Dad, you looked great in your outfit including a red tie.(your favourite colour).  It was a beautiful summer day, all the flowers were absolutely gorgeous and you had red roses on your casket.   You had beautiful music, many tributes and even a photo tribute which you would have loved.

Dad, I had the honour of doing the eulogy.  I was up many late nights working on it but once it was finished I felt really good,  Friends said the eulogy was great.  Dad, it was my love  letter to you.  

Charlie did a great music tribute on his guitar but the most awesome thing was he also did a final tribute at the end.  He told us some things that even I did not know.  Charlie pored out of his love for you in his music and final tribute.  Charlie's tribute moved friends to tears.  They could feel his pain and his great love for you.  

Dad, Alan also wrote a tribute for you but he decided to have the clergy read it.

Dad, your service was a celebration of your wonderful life.  To us you will always be a father who loved us and always put us first.  To us you will always be a father who was independent, active and who lived and loved life to the fullest.

Annie Nishi

Hi Charlie an Alan,sorry to hear of your dad`s passing,well really miss him around our neighbourhood,especially when he would stop by on the way to iga and chat with my parents about the current events,and gardening tips..boy the neighbourhood sure is changing,thanks for the memories..take care of your mom guys,it well take time to adjust...all the best...

My Father was a very humble and easy going person.  He didn't earn a whole lot of money as a cook but he was happy and content with living a simple lifestyle.  Cooking was his passion as well as caring for his wife, 3 children, 2 grandchildren and son-in-law.

He never owned any major luxuries such as cars, motorcycles or any other vehicles.  He did own a 3-speed Triumph bicycle.  It was incredible that he rode that bike to his workplace in Vancouver from New Westminster.

As little children we would cry every now and then.  My Dad's solution to stop us crying was bribery.  Handing over 1 or 2 quarters if we would stop- apparently his tactic worked.

My Dad had a thing for jackets.  He owned anywhere between 50 to 60 jackets and he never threw them away even if they were worn out.  The majority of them were still in good condition.  Now those jackets and other clothes will be donated to worthy organization.

My dad liked to be active and was still mowing the lawn and shovelling the snow up to the last year of his life.

When it came to credit cards and bank cards, my dad didn't care to use them.  he preferred to interact with a bank teller instead of a machine.  He only dealt with cash and cheques for all his payments.

My Dad once said that if he could play a musical instrument, it would have been a violin.  When it comes to sports, he liked to watch and play basketball.  It was something that he did while he was growing up in China.

My dad didn't travel very much but he did get to see Hawaii and San Francisco while aboard the ship that brought him to Vancouver.  Dad did take a day trip to Whistler and another one to Whidbey Island.

The last act of kindness towards one of our neighbours was that he gave them a bucket of Kentucky Fried chicken.  I was soooo.......surprised that he would do something like that.

Dad also had a thing for tipping trades people who did work around the house.  One time he gave the roofers a case of beer as a tip.  However, those roofers didn't take the beer and leave.  They drank the beer on our front lawn and didn't leave our house for at least another 2 hours.  My dad didn't like what they did and never offered beer as a tip from that day onwards.

It just so happened that I was the one at my Father's bedside when he took his last breath.  However before that final breath, my Dad was pretty much unresponsive to my voice.  I was constantly telling him that he was going home.  To a much nicer home, a home that is eternal, a home in heaven.

Then I noticed that his eyes looked away from the ceiling and shifted over to take one last look at me before his eyes went back to the ceiling.  I had also noticed a tear building up in the corner of his right eye then less than 5 minutes my Dad stopped breathing and he was gone.

When my sister arrived at the hospital 2 1/2 hours later, I told her what i had witnessed.  She told me that it was my Dad's way of saying goodbye to me.

I was hoping that my sister was going to be the one  to be there for my Dad's finals minutes of life.  But looking back at the situation, it was appropriate that
I was the one since I spent the most time with Dad during all those years that  he was with us.

I will miss My DAD very much and will always cherish the great memories that he created in our lives,  I love my Dad very much and that love was shown through my actions as well.

I love you Dad.
This is my final goodbye to you.

Charlie Fong

Dad and Mom were married in Canton, China in 1945.  Back then they married young.  They were both only 17.  Looking back at old pictures, I forget that my parents were young and they would have looked like any other couple in love.  My Dad was handsome and a good dresser.  No wonder my Mom fell in love with him. Despite their love for each other , they also experienced great tragedy.  Two sons were born but did not live for long.  I can't even imagine what my parents went through.  However, these 2 lost sons would come to play an important part later in dad's life.  No more children were born until my parents came to Canada.

Dad was independent and very active right up to the time when he was admitted to the hospital in June due to a severe allergic reaction to medication.  Dad walked and took the bus.  He did the grocery shopping, banking and even in his 80's- mowing the lawn.  One winter, a neighbour who was younger than Dad came to help Dad shovel the sidewalk.  Dad told him, he didn't need his help- he could do it himself.  Dad never liked help from anyone if he could do it himself.  In the hospital, he had to give up his independence.  This must have been really hard for him.

We found a journal dated 1952.  My Dad's chinese writing was so well written and his english writing was beautiful.  My dad loved to read.  He had many chinese novels in his library.  My Dad was very inquisitive.  Anything he didn't know or understand, he would ask me or use his dictionary.  I think my Dad would have loved to have gone to university.

Dad's favourite time of the year was Christmas.  When we were young, he took us for Santa photos at the old Woodwards and we also chose 1 toy as a Christmas present.  Dad always took us to eat afterwards.  As we became older, Dad would prepare a feast for dinner.  Our table was so full there was no place for our plates.  Dad made Christmas special for us.
Dad never spent too much money on himself but he did indulge in jackets and suits.  His favourite colour was red.

The most important thing for Dad was his family.  He worked hard all his life to take care of us.  My brothers talked Dad into seeing a rock  concert by the Guess Who.  My brothers enjoyed it but my Dad just thought it was very loud.  He never complained because as long as his 2 sons were enjoying it- it was good enough for him.  It was Dad's first and last rock concert.  When I first learnt to cook rice on the stove, I burnt it so many times but Dad didn't say anything- he just ate it.  That was my Dad- always putting us first before himself.

My Dad really enjoyed being a grandpa.  Carlie and Kimberly were the joy of his life.  He always made sure he had their favourite egg tarts/coconut buns to take home. Carlie was able to say goodbye via cellphone.  I'm sure he enjoyed listening to her.

Watching my Dad in the hospital these last 2 months he taught me that life was worth fighting for.  Through all the ups and downs, he never gave up.  It wasn't his fighting spirit that failed him and caused his death but his body was old and just gave up.

Our Dad became a Christian in the hospital.  On the day of his death, I had the absolute pleasure of whispering in his ear- do not be afraid, Jesus will lead you all the way home and watch for those angels.  When my Dad died, he went for the ride of his life.  He is now reunited with his 2 sons.  This hope has sustained me through all this.

My Father gave his children many gifts but he greatest gifts were given at the end of his life.  For me, he stayed to celebrate one last birthday and the next day he was gone.  He could still remember my birthday.  His memory was still good.
But the greatest gift was given to Charlie.  I had wanted to be there in the final moments and Charlie said he wished it was I instead of him.  After, we both agreed it was fitting for Charlie to be the one at the end.
Charlie and Dad spent a lot of time together.  They went grocery shopping, doctor's appointments, eating at restaurants and chatting.
I left Charlie and Dad not knowing that he would only be here for half hour more.  In that last half, it was just the 2 of them like it had been so many times before.  Only this time it would be different.  To the son that he loved so much and to the son that he depended on so much, he poured out all his love to Charlie when he said goodbye.  You were the baby of the family but you were Dad's right arm..

Dad, I love you and I will miss you but I know that in Christ there are no goodbyes and I know I will see you again.

Annie Nishi

Kelly Fong was a young man when he came from China.  He worked hard and he was able to provide a good life for himself and his family.  After a few years, he was able to buy a house in Vancouver.  This gave him a base to which to grow roots and be part of the Canadian dream. He was able to retire in his 60's and he was able to enjoyed a 20 year retirement.
He loved and cherished his granddaughters.  He never forgot their birthdays and he was always generous to them,  He came from China to build  a better future for himself and his family.  In this he was a success.

Paul Nishi
 ]

Kelly Fong  was my Uncle.  He was a hard working responsible husband and father.  He worked hard as a cook and not only did he cook good food for his customers but he would return home to cook the family meals every day.
A few years ago, he had developed some knee problems and he he needed surgery.
Despite this, he would still walk to the local IGA to do the family grocery shopping.  He was an intelligent man who like to talk Canadian and Chinese
politics.  When I was a child living in Hong Kong, he always took me to movies and playland.  He would also buy me a lot of toys.  I will never forget his generocity and kindness.
Although he is no longer with us, his spirit will always stay in our memory.
May God bless him.

Alex Jung

I will miss my Dad very dearly.  He had a great sense of humour and I will always miss his great cooking especially at Christmas time.  He always made a great turkey dinner. I realized how hard my Dad worked all his life and I will always be grateful that he took care of us when we were kids. 
I will never forget my Dad and he will forever have a special place in my life and in my heart!  Good bye Dad. Rest in peace and I will never forget you forever.

Alan Fong

As a child growing up, I remember 'Yee Goong' coming over often to visit my grandma and grandpa. He would always walking over since we only lived a few blocks away. I remember he never wanted anyone to drive him anywhere as he was so independent. He was always kind and loving and generous. On behalf of all the Jung family, we express our heartfelt loss for our uncle, grand uncle, brother in law. We will never forget him. To all the Fong family, we offer our condolences. Please take care and know we love you and wish you well.

Karen Jung and Jung Family

Our hearts are deeply saddened by the loss of a dear husband, father and friend.  I remember Mr. Fong as a generous man with a big heart.  He always had a big smile on his face and very kind to me and my family.

When we came to the house for dinner, he would make the best turkey dinner I've ever had and made me and my family feel so welcome.  Cooking was his joy and he did it with so much love.

We will miss him very much.

Judy Ferrante and Ian Inglis

OBITUARY

Kelly Shew Kew Fong

October 15, 1928 – August 10, 2013

Glenhaven Memorial Chapel

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