Eulogy for My Grandson, Forest’s Grandmother who passed
away on May 19, 2014
Hi, for people who don’t know me, my name is
Janice Chang, Celeste’s mom and Hans’ mother-in-law. Looking at all the pictures displayed outside, it immediately
brought back the best memory I had for Pat. It seems like just yesterday - the graduation day for both
Celeste and Hans at UC Berkeley MBA program. That’s May 16, 2008 2:00 p.m. at Greek Theater. I remember vividly. It was brutally hot 105 degree. Liz, Pat’s sister, Pat and I all had
the hats on plus the umbrella that Pete, who was so nice to give us that for
double protection, sitting on the sizzling cement seats. We had to sit on the graduation
programs without getting our tootsies burned. …. Pat was so
calm and easy-going, patiently telling me her American stories of mid-western
life styles - how her childhood was and the lovely family members of her life,
brothers and sisters, Pete, and the children Hans and Rachel. That’s just our first formal meeting. We were not even co-mother-in-law yet.
I tell you, I already liked her a lot then; she’s just like my best high school
and college friend who was filling me in all the past good and bad old times. Yes, It’s her even-tempered, poised
personality that made the stories feel like a cool breeze in that hot memorable
day.
We officially became co-mother-in-law on August
8, 2009 when Hans and Celeste got married. She would always call or e-mail me about her well-being. In November 2011, I would like to
invite her to travel with me to Taiwan, when I had the world college reunion
then. That was one year after both
Celeste and Hans and the families from Chang’s and Wu’s had a post-wedding
celebration in Taiwan. It did not
work out as we expected, because I was concerned that the long travel, the semi-tropical
weather and other issues might be an inconvenience for her. I know she would have liked it very
much to hold my hand and hear my Chinese American story I had promised her
before.
One thing I know I will always miss is her
writing. The letter from Nana I read several times since, I hope I will
read it to Forest one day, and the yearly Cole family report. It’s always timely
around the Christmas. It’s full of
loving words for Pete, Ike and Addie – the grandchildren… and of course, the wry
and ironic political humors were peppered everywhere. I have not shared with her my family’s split Republican and
Democratic political feud yet.
Our grandson baby Forest was born
last year September 4. She and I had
talked about visiting California with different schedules to help out both Hans
and Celeste. Unfortunately, she
was not able to make it. Instead,
I was the lucky one to spend about 6 months with them. It’s such a joy to watch Forest’s
growth everyday and read the books she mailed to him frequently. When the package arrived at the door,
most of the times it’s Nana’s books for Forest. I know she would like to use the books as the catalyst for
her grandmotherly love. Pat, I
know Forest loves the books you sent to him, because Celeste, Hans and I read to
him everyday. For bedtime routine,
he would always focus on your books, sitting on my lap, totally responsive and
fixed his eyes on the page.
Sometimes, he would turn the page for me. When I said, “the end” at the last page, he would flip the
book to the beginning with his tiny hands, then I would repeat again for the
second, the third, and the fourth time for him, until he had no more energy
left to do so.
This eulogy is also a “thank-you” note to you,
Pat, from my husband, Ben, who is sitting in the back, and my son, Eric who
can’t make it today. You have left
the legacy of your love of books and writing for all of us.
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