Final tribute to my mother

This post today is not about quilts.  Today I would like to talk about my mother.  For those of you who have read my blog, you already knew a little bit about her.

My mom with one of her granddaughter in 1990's

My dear mother passed away peacefully at 1 am., Bangkok time, on June 20, 2015.  She was 93 years old. She is survived by her four daughters, two sons, eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. 

 

Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren at the funeral

My mother didn't have any education.  She couldn't read or write anything.  In her time, girls only worked around the house until they were married.  And once they got married, they belonged to the husband's family.  That's why Chinese didn't want to waste money and time to educate girls.  We taught her simple math so that she could do business to earn money to provide for her 7 children after my dad walked away from us.  We all went to private schools because they provided a better education than the public schools.  Education in Thailand is not free and there was no such thing as financial aid at that time.  I remember there were times she had to pawn her gold jewelry to pay for the tuition, otherwise we wouldn't be allowed to take the final exam to graduate. 

For college, my father only paid for boys.  My mother vowed that all her girls would go to college, and we sure did.  All five daughters graduated from college, two have earned a master degree.  All my four older sisters and two older brothers worked hard and they all are accomplished in their choice professions.  For a woman who didn't have any education, she taught us so much about love, courage and sacrifice.  Without her, I'm nothing.  We are who we are today because of her, and for that I am forever grateful that she's my mother.

I'm grateful for my membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because the gospel of Jesus Christ brings peace to me.  I know that death is not the end and that families can be together forever.   I will miss her but I know that one day I will see her and be with her again.  Rest in peace, mom. I love you.