Obituary of Yin Yin Fong

FONG- Yin Yin (Nee Wong)

Yin Yin passed away suddenly on May 8, 2023 at the age of 81 years. Her family finds solace in knowing she is now home in Heaven with JESUS.

Reunited with her Spouse: Che Kong Fong (2021)

Precious and loving mother of Children: Michael, Lucienne, Margaret (husband Christopher McNamara), Raymond Fong

Cherished and loving Pau Pau (maternal grandmother) to Grandchildren: Markus Fong-McNamara and August Fong-McNamara

Daughter of : Wong Chun Chor (Dad) (December 14, 1897-February 5th, 1960); Wong Kwan Ket (Mom) (July 3, 1909 - February 1, 1988).

Beloved sister of Siblings: Ping Ping (deceased) and husband, Hon Szeto, Kuen Kuen and husband, Wai Chong Mok, Tony Wong and wife, So Ching.

Dearest Aunt to Nieces and Nephews: Jacky, Diane (Marcel), Anson, Kevin, Keren (Chris), Kelly (Darren), Winnie (Trevor), Wallace (Sokhanny), Tiffany (Vann), Christine. Great Nieces and Nephews: Jules, Isabelle, Cara, Julianna, Genova, Alexa, Madelyn, Meilin, Mulan, Colette, Harper, Everly, Colin, Ty, Cole, Emmett.

Dear cousins Paul, Michele, Carson (deceased), Lai Kuen (deceased), Lai Ying (deceased) and their families in New York, Boston, Hawaii, Switzerland and Montreal.

And many dear nieces and nephews (through marriage) in Windsor, Hong Kong and Australia.

This is Yin Yin’s Story -

She was born in Hong Kong in the middle of WWII on January 3, 1942. Family was everything to her. After the war, when Hong Kong was devastated, and food source was scarce, Yin Yin, being the oldest of four children, would often give up her share of snacks to her younger siblings so they would not be hungry.

Yin Yin was a bright student who loved school and had aspired to be a doctor. However, at the age of 17, she had to quit school to work as a full time nanny to assist with desperately needed financial support for her family. A year later, her father, a commercial merchant ship inventory manager, tragically and suddenly passed away at sea. Instead of her dreams of attending University, Yin Yin’s priority became entirely focused on helping with the family's living expenses and to help her mother raise the younger children. Working two jobs, she would later land a starting position at a company that manufactured Barbie Dolls and clothing for Mattel. Her intellect and dedicated work ethics were awarded with a promotion to supervisor for the clothing division, where she remained employed for many years. This work place is where she met her husband, Che. She eventually left the company to start a small exporting business, selling and distributing Barbie doll clothing. With the same diligence and hard work, the business thrived. When her husband Che had the opportunity to work in the Tool and Die industry overseas in far-away Windsor, Ontario, they made the difficult decision to leave Hong Kong to immigrate to Canada.

She and her husband, Che were the most loving, devoted parents who made the greatest sacrifices and did everything for their four children. Coming to Windsor was a challenge and a cultural shock, but they met those challenges with grace, composure, courage and strength.

Upon arriving in Canada, Yin Yin soon found her first job in a Chinese restaurant, then in the ensuing years, worked at different Chinese eateries, learning more of the intricacies of the trade. She was also involved in a few restaurant partnerships since entering the Chinese cuisine industry. Then in 1992, as the force and anchor, she built and opened, along with her husband and children, a successful restaurant that would become an enduring and endearing fixture in the Tecumseh community: Fong’s Villa.

Operating Fong’s Villa seven days a week, 364 days a year left scarce spare time for anything else, but Yin Yin still loved nothing more than to be with family.

She was ecstatic with happiness and joy when her twin grandsons, August and Markus were born and she managed the time to be the best, the most loving, devoted and doting Pau Pau (maternal grandmother) to them.

All her life, family was the most important to Yin Yin. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, big sister, sister-in-law, aunt and cousin. She was always there for her family, extended family and friends, never turning away to help with whatever and however she could. She was always just a phone call away.

Yin Yin was an amazing, sagacious, intelligent woman - loving, caring, giving, kind, sweet, companionate, loyal, generous, responsible, reliable, self-sacrificing, creative, industrious, dynamic, enterprising and hard working.

She is dearly and forever missed by her children, grandchildren, son-in-law, siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews and friends. Yin Yin is loved beyond measure and will forever remain in her family's hearts.

Her amazing legacy lives on in the lives of her four children and two grandchildren.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the first responders, who came to her aid - EMS, Tecumseh Fire and Rescue, and OPP (Jamie Porto and his colleagues). Thanks also to Dr. Andrew Schwartz and nurses Phoenix, Amanda and Michelle at Windsor Regional Hospital, Met Campus.

A private visitation will be held. If so desired, in great appreciation by the family, donations may be made in Yin Yin Fong’s memory to Diabetes Associations of Windsor or Evangel Bible Church in Windsor.