Szeto Sze Wong's Obituary
Szeto Sze Wong, known by her friends as “Sadie”, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2020 in Antioch, CA at the amazing age of 100 years old. Born into the Szeto family on July 11, 1919 in China’s Guangdong Province, she would occupy the fourth place in a family of four daughters and a son.
A loving mother and tireless provider for her family, Szeto was a remarkable woman whose life journey spanned across twelve different decades. The first chapter in Szeto’s life was marked by happiness and extreme hardships. From when she married Jimmie Wei Wong in 1937 and had their first daughter Susanna born a year later; to being apart from husband and daughter due to immigration laws and wartime events; and eventually reuniting in the U.S. with husband and later daughter in the late 1950’s when Susanna married husband Check and moved from Hong Kong to the U.S.
After the war, Szeto and husband Jimmie ran a family grocery business first in Mississippi where children Dixie, Jackie and Pattie were born and later moving the family to Houston, TX in 1964 for better opportunities. It was a hard working life, but one that instilled a good work ethic in her children. Szeto and Jimmie enjoyed retirement life in Houston from 1978 until they moved to California in 1992.
The last and most unexpected chapter in Szeto’s life started after husband Jimmie passed away in April 1992. She completely reinvented herself at age 73 and started going to church regularly, applied for and was awarded U.S. citizenship, rode the BART train and City buses regularly, and became very social and developed many lasting friendships. She did this over a span of over 27 years, first in Walnut Creek, next in Houston and lastly back in California, all on her own!
Szeto was a dedicated mother and great friend above all. She treasured time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and embraced every moment with them. She had a warm, engaging personality and always made people around her smile. She made friends everywhere she went and her friends at church and the places she has lived loved her as well.
Szeto Sze Wong was predeceased by her parents, siblings, husband Jimmie Wong and daughter Susanna Yee. She is survived by her three children, Dixie Wong, Jackie Wong and his wife Julie, and Pattie Kong. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Ferdinand Yee, Linda Moy and her husband Marvin, Lisa Chan and her husband Harvey, Sylvia Tam and her husband Jimmy, Melissa Kong-Garcia and her husband Jeff, Christopher Wang, Jessica Kong, Erin Wang, and Jared Kong. She had eight great-grandchildren Brian and Natalie Moy, Tracie and Tyler Chan, Trevor and Amanda Tam, Alden and Brooke Garcia; and many beloved cousins, nephews and nieces, and friends.
Services will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Skylawn Memorial Park located on Highway 92 at Skyline Blvd. in San Mateo, CA. Visitation will be from 9-11 am followed by a Memorial Service from 11 am to 12 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Chinese Alliance Church located at 1630 Grant St., Concord, CA 94520.
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