Jean W. Fong was called to be with the Lord on February 16^th, 2016 in her Oakland home where she resided for the past 60 years.

Born January 15, 1928 near Canton, China, she married George On Fong in 1947, who then returned to the US leaving Jean and new baby son to be sent for later.  Jean was able to successfully escape the communist takeover of China in 1949 in an arduous two-year journey with her son to the US to be reunited with her husband in 1951.  A baby daughter was born in 1952 in Oakland.  With no formal education, Jean had to learn English on her own and was able to pass the Naturalization process for citizenship – it was in English only.  Jean worked in numerous industries, but she was best known for 20 years helping run the family grocery store in Emeryville.  Her life was one of continual love and sacrifice for her family.  Her husband George of 39 years preceded her in death in 1986.

Jean read her Bible daily and constantly kept her family in her prayers.  She was a member of the Chinese Independent Baptist Church of Oakland.  Jean is survived by three children, Steven Fong, Nancy Fong, and Wah Ying Fong and spouses Jan Fong (S) and Laurence Fong (N), ten grandchildren, Tricia Marquardt (S), Jennifer Fong (S), Alison Tsang (N), Kimberly Fong (N), YiXin Liu (W), YiYuan Liu (W), ChaoNing Liu (W), YiWan Liu (W), Felix Lau (W), and Jean Lau (W) and numerous spouses, partners and 15 great grandchildren, plus 9 great great grandchildren.  Special mention of spouses and partners of grandchildren Danny Marquardt (TM), Ryan Tsang (AF), and Dominic Patalot (KF). 

In addition, Jean’s late sister Yuk Yee Wong and her family also immigrated and provided Jean with 6 nieces and nephews, Hing Sum Lau, Yuk Mun Lau, Yuk Tong Lau, Hing Kong Lau, Hing Kin Lau, and Yuk Fai Lau and their families including 12 grandnieces and grandnephews.  Jean also has a surviving sister in rural China, but not much is known of her.  Many of Jean’s nieces and nephews and their spouses were also at bedside vigil along with immediate family, when she passed away peacefully at the age of 88.

Services held:

Chapel of the Chimes

4499 Piedmont Avenue Oakland, CA 94611

Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 10:30am

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Chinese Independent Baptist Church of Oakland in Jean’s memory.