went. Please excuse typos as I had to write this all on a mobile
phone (touchscreen keyboards suck).
Wai Gong funeral service trip
(7 Aug 2010)
Flew out on a direct flight from Pudong (less than 2 hours). TSA was
smaller than I thought. Caught Fang4 hang 2 bus to Keelung from bus
stop# 3 outside Terminal 1 and was in Keelung 30 min later. Getting a
cab was a little awkward because the cabby was an elderly guy who
couldn't read my street directions and I didn't have pinyin. I
eventually arrived comfortably before the service and it was nice to
see Mom and all the uncles.
The space for the service was pretty industrial and kind of loud, but
it was done up nicely with wreaths all around and seating set up for
about 100 people. Mom introduced me to a number of people. Zhong Hui
and San Shu Gong were the main people I remember. I changed into my
suit and then as the church choir rehearsed, the family had a small
service by WG's casket. He looked small and childlike, with only his
face showing. It bothered me a little that I didn't have a strong
emotional response, but I think its because it just didn't seem like
WG at all. During the private service, some of the uncles broke down.
It was hard to watch. Zhong Hui was particularly broken up.
The service started soon after, with about 70 people in attendance.
It was a Christian service with hymns, prayers, intermixed with
eulogies and testimonies. Mom gave a really good eulogy that touched
on his biography and how he was as a father and husband. I had the
chance to speak as well. Here's the English version:
_____
Greetings friends and family. I am HHW's grandson and am representing
the younger generation.
Many today have talked of Wai Gong's generosity, his great deeds, and
loyalty, so I'd like to speak of his humor and playfulness. There are
two short stories I want to share.
When I was a boy, I spent a year living in Taichung with WG and WP. I
was a very naughty boy. Not a lot of people in their 70s would be
willing to take on a 7 yr old boy, but I think WG really enjoyed
having a kid around. I would climb above a doorway and refuse to come
down until WG said, "I beg you to come to dinner." He always did this
in a joking way and it was a private joke between us for many years.
My cousin Stephanie also told me a story. She and my uncle HZ Ming
often would take WG shopping at the nearby grocery store. He loved to
cook and loved to go shopping. This time they got separated and they
couldn't find WG. After searching everywhere, they feared he had hurt
himself. Finally they decided to call Wai Poh at home to tell her
what was going on. Guess who answered the phone? WG. He said, "You
guys were so slow that I just came back myself."
We will remember WG not as a 100 yr old man, but as a grandpa whom we
liked to introduce to our friends because he was "cool". I am sure
that as WG is in heaven by WPs side he is surely teasing her with a
grin on his face like he did over a lifetime.
____
There was a really good slide show set to music that Uncle Larry and
Aunt Ann arranged. It demonstrated all different aspects of WGs life
during different phases, whether as a young man or in Yangzhou just
before he passed. The most memorable was a short clip of him playing
chess with an old friend. The friend was saying, "let's take a
break." WG looks at his watch and says, "stop stalling, let's go!"
Finally, Uncle Larry thanked by name many of the family and friends
who had helped out during the past few months. Yu Jiu Ma, Dr. Dong,
and Hsu Zhong Bo and Hsu Zhong Dao were singled out for contributions.
Following this, the family went to the casket to lay flowers on WGs
chest and say a final goodbye. It was heartwrenching. We formed a
line to say thanks to those who had come to the service. Then we took
the casket out to the hearse to go to the crematorium.
That night we had a big dinner. I got a chance to meet many of our
Taiwan relatives, from Zhong Yi, the baby faced 42 yr old youngest
brother who is building a camera distributorship in TW, Zhong Dao, who
retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Information branch of the Army,
and Sun, Zhong Hui's husband, who was a ordnance guy until he retired
as a full colonel.
As funerals tend to be, there was laughter and good memories. The
next morning, I had to head to the airport early, but the rest of the
clan headed to Taichung to see Tai Gong's grave.
It was a good way to go out and everyone contributed something to help
out. I was really proud of our family.
--
Louie Cheng
