Nancy Yee Bik Yin Wong

April 1, 1931 – January 5, 2024

* Wife * Mother * Grandma~MaMa

* Sister * Aunt * Faith-Builder * Gardener * Friend

Nancy Wong of Happy Valley, Oregon, passed away of natural causes in the evening of January 5, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving children (Andy, Angela, Cheryl, Howie, and Lennie) and their families.

Nancy Yee Bik Yin was born in the village of Hoi Ping in Canton province on April 1, 1931. She was the eldest of five siblings and academically gifted. She was accepted into the prestigious Pui Ching Baptist School in Guangzhou and then went on to study medicine in Peking (Beijing). Her medical school were unfortunately disrupted by the conflict between the Guo Ming Tang and Communist political parties between 1945-1949. She spoke fondly of her time in Beijing, where she learned how to speak impeccable Mandarin and make incredible potstickers.

She was living and working in Hong Kong when she was introduced to Allen Wong through family/village connections. Her father was already working in Mexico at the time, so she was open to the opportunity to emigrate to the USA. Allen spoke their native Toisanese dialect but couldn’t read or write Chinese characters. Nancy couldn’t write much English, and so they corresponded with each other through family letter-writers.

In 1957, she met Allen in person for the first time when he traveled to Hong Kong to meet and marry his picture bride. Nancy could barely speak any English when she first arrived in the USA, but she bravely got on with life. They soon had a thriving family with five kids and settled in a home near the Chinese Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon where they attended for many years. Allen worked as an accounting clerk/bookkeeper by day and helped at a local Chinese restaurant on evenings and weekends.

Grandma Nancy rarely spoke of her curtailed academic work, but it was clear that she would do everything in her power to ensure that nothing could get in the way of her own children’s education. Her interest in medicine was also evident in the way that she was committed to providing excellent nutrition and promoting health practices like regular exercise. She had the kind of natural warmth and friendliness that embraced everyone she met. Her hospitality invited you in with laughter and enticing kitchen smells. She seemed genuinely delighted to be able to connect with anyone, whether in English, Cantonese, or Mandarin.

Grandpa Allen and Grandma Nancy were selflessly devoted to their family, continuously striving to give them the best through hard work and sacrifice. Theirs was a typical Asian American family story – getting by with humility, frugality, stoicism, and resourcefulness. Both were unfailingly generous with what they had, whether it was food, time, or energy. In their retirement years, they often went above and beyond their volunteer work at the Chinese Social Service Center, helping new immigrants by bridging across family and culture.

Grandma Nancy lived with Parkinson’s disease for the last eight years of her life, never complaining as she gradually lost her independence, mobility and communication skills. She died on the day of Grandpa Allen’s funeral, passing gently and peacefully to join him in their heavenly home.

The family of Nancy Wong would like to thank the staff of Vista River Hospice and Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside for their care and support. A private memorial service will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to:

All Classical Radio KQAC,

211 SE Caruthers St, Suite 200,

Portland, OR 97214

https://underwriting.allclassical.org/

or

OPB

(Oregon Public Broadcasting)

EIN: 93-0814638 7140

7140 S Macadam Avenue

Portland, OR 97219