Mavis Chun (May) 14/09/1916 - 28/09/2010

[NZBC]

CHUN, Mavis. -
On 28 September 2010. Passed away peacefully at home, aged 94 years.

Loved daughter of the late Chun Yee Hop and Wun Chu Lin (Mary), and a beloved sister and aunt of many.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Chinese Anglican Church would be appreciated.

Messages and tributes can be left in May's tribute book below.

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of May's life at the Chinese Anglican Church, Glenmore Street, Wellington on Tuesday October 5, 2010 at 1:00pm thereafter interment at Makara Cemetery.

Harbour City Funeral Home
Members of the Funeral Directors Association of NZ
www.tributes.co.nz/ViewMyTribute.aspx?id=5743

[NZBC]

Service Information
Date: 5/10/2010
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Anglican Chinese Church
Glenmore Street
Wellington

[NZBC]

Marie Chung
22/11/2010

Auntie May,

You were such a part of my childhood whenever Mum took us to Newtown to visit the family you were always there looking after everyone, the children, your parents.

Then many years later I came to know you better when I stayed on in Hong Kong to work. It was so good to meet up and have some family here and I think the feeling was mutual.

You worked so hard for the family, gave up your own future to keep the family together and when they became independent you felt you had to make a life of your own.

When I came to Hong Kong you had a very good job working in a German company as secretary and office manager. They valued you there as in those days there were not many who were proficient in both written and spoken English and Chinese. It was only when the company moved to Korea that you stopped work.

Family and visitors to Hong Kong looked forward to seeing a familiar face and you willingly showed them around and for ones who didn’t come to Hong Kong you shopped and packed and posted for them. Tasks that were not easy while holding down a demanding job. You told me of many times you helped tourists looking bewildered in the street holding a map not knowing where to go.

You loved the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong and reluctantly left when the flat you lived in was sold. You always wanted to return to Hong Kong but sadly you were not able to make another trip back but you always had those memories.

Auntie May I will miss you - I looked forward to seeing you each time I came back to Wellington, you were always eager to hear how Hong Kong was and if it had changed since you lived here.

Auntie May, may you rest in peace, you took on a momentous job and did it well, you never once said to me that you ever regretted it. You should be very proud of what you achieved in your lifetime. You slipped away before I had a chance to say goodbye but I will never forget you.

Your niece Marie


“Those we love don’t go away,
They walk beside us everyday,
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Still loved, still missed and very dear."
Shirley Ng
22/11/2010

Mavis,

I will always remember 28th September 2010 - I was leaving for the Airport when I received the sad news of your sudden passing - it was so unexpected. It was only 2 weeks prior to your passing we were celebrating your 94th birthday at our home with Doris, June, Alan, George & myself - little did we realise it was to be the last. We have had so many pleasant outings with you - your absence will be noticeable at all future family get togethers.

Am sure you would have been pleased with the Service held at the Anglican Chinese Church with all your family & friends - it was a Service befitting you. Not many people could have endured the life so tenderly told by Nigel in his Eulogy but you coped so well - it was such a difficult burden but your amazing strength of character showed through.

We have a record of your Service on Video - a truly moving Service - it will be viewed often to remind us of you - you will never be forgotten.

Sadly missed by all.

Shirley
STAN CHUN
7/11/2010

May,

I did not think I would have to make you this tribute as I had done two before, one at the Chun Centenary and another at the Chun Reunion... and I thought you would outlast me.

I am so pleased that I did this at the times as letting you know what I/WE think of your life's work with the family was something that certainly is best whilst alive than as a eulogy.

Many would look askance at you when you advocated Chinese herbals for health and longevity... and I did too but now that I have the same belief I know how hard it is to convince others what is good for them.

We all had a pretty hard upbringing but you accepted your fate and duty to the family with tremendous vigour... that of a tigress... and we were all the better for it.

You indeed were the family matriarch and indeed the Number One Sister.

Stan
June Wong
4/11/2010

Dear May

Only 2 weeks after your 94th birthday May, you suddenly left us. It was such a shock for us all, you were so strong we thought you would reach the 100 mark without effort.

But only God knew your pain and hurts and a body that was growing weaker than your determination.

We did our best for you May, as you did for us when we were growing up. Your good works will never be forgotten

Rest now, in His Peace, Love and Comfort


" There is a time for everything under the sun
and a season for every activity under heaven"

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Bye for now

June
Jim Watson
12/10/2010

I have known Mavis since 1953 and I have always found her to be a honest and good friend. I offer my condolences on a sad loss.

God bless
Shirley Ng
6/10/2010

I thought of you with Love today but that is nothing new
I thought about you yesterday and days before that too

I think of you in silence I often speak your name
All I have are memories and your picture in a frame

Your memory is my keepsake with which I'll never part
God has you in His keeping I have you in my heart.


You will be missed.

Shirley

[NZBC]

bituary.........
Mavis Chun
陳美嫦
陳美嫦
陳美嫦
陳美嫦 —
——
—
Bak Shek village
白石村
白石村
白石村
白石村
14 September 1916 – 28 September 2010
Mavis or May, as she is sometimes called by the family, was the matriarch of the Chun family in
Wellington. She was the first child born in Wellington to Chun Yee Hop陳宜合
and his second wife Wun Choy Lin 温翠容. Her father arrived in New Zealand in 1895 and her mother in 1915.
He was 46 at the time of Mavis’s birth and she was 20. Mavis’s Chinese name was given to her by her father but her English name was supposedly given to her by Annie Wong, the popular wife of the Chinese Anglican minister at that time. After two years, Mavis had a sister and every year after that another sister until 1923 when the
first boy Bill, was born. In all, Mavis’s mother had 18 children, all single births .
Mavis started school at Te Aro Primary School on The Terrace in the same year her father moved the family fruit shop from Lambton Quay to Willis Street. Being the eldest, she was given responsibilities well beyond her years and had a growing up period completely different to other children of her time.
In 1929, when Mavis was 13, her father took the whole family (10 then) back to China for a Chinese education for atleast six years. However, after less than a year, one of the boys became sick and fearing that they might be targeted for kidnapping or die from illness, Mavis’s father returned to New Zealand with the three boys. Mavis and her sisters stayed with her father’s first wife, eventually attendinga traditional Chinese school. However as Mavis was a bright and brilliant student, after two years, her father decided she was more useful in the shop in Wellington than studying in China and in 1931, returned to Wellington. She was then 15.
Mavis’s job was now to help her parents full time with the family and the shop. Being the eldest child, it was natural in those days that she shouldered the responsibility.
There was limited communication with her father and even less with her mother so Mavis bore the responsibilities with no support from anyone. It was a hard time for the family, financially
and otherwise and with so many to support, it was all work and no play.
In 1932, her father moved shop again to Coutts Street in Kilbirnie. By 1941, another seven children had arrived and the remaining six sisters return from China made the family even larger. To cope with this increase and to
support the family, in 1935 Mavis’s father bought another fruit shop in Newtown, where Mavis moved with her parents and the younger children.
In 1946, Mavis’s mother died from ovarian cancer at the age of 49 and a year later, her father passed away at the age of 78. With both parents dead, there was no one to look after the family and business except 32 year old
Mavis and her 25 year old brother Bill.
Because there were no parents, there was a strong possibility the family would be broken up by the social services. Thiswas particularly after the younger ones decided towag school unknown to Mavis. The social welfare suggested that as Mavis was obviously unable to care for her brothersand sisters, the family should be fostered out.. Mavis knew that this would be the end of the family and she refused. Determined that this would not happen again, she cared for the family firmer discipline to enable them all to stay together.
Mavis enjoyed parties and socialising when time and family duties permitted. The 1940’s brought changes to the community with more young Chinese arriving in Wellington. Chinese sports clubs were formed and Mavis enjoyed the
company of other people of her age. Even though she didn’t play sports herself, it gave her the opportunity to relax from her responsibilities. She loved to dress up for the functions and made all her own and the children’s
clothes as was the trend of the time.
Mavis loved classical music, bought a piano and took piano lessons. She entertained her friends by playing the piano and as she had a fine soprano singing voice, also took singing and elocution lessons to develop it. She also developed her professional skills by going to secretarial college where she learnt shorthand and typing. She bought herself a typewriter and in later years this was to become her main means of communication and she wrote thousands of letters over the years.
Despite the grind of looking after the shop, Mavis maintained a refined dignity and wanted her siblings to do well. She arranged for them to take piano lessons and Chineselanguage classes and made sure they practised.
In 1951, the Newtown and KIlbirnie shops were sold and Bill bought the Zenith Fruit shop in Manners St
reet. All the siblings moved to work in the new shop. In 1952, the family bought a large house in Homewood Avenue in Karori, where they all lived. From this point life improved considerably for the family.
In 1955 with all the children grown up, Mavis decided it was time for her to take a break and she took
a holiday in America, where she worked in a Chinese restaurant for six months. She returned to work with the family again until 1966 when decided to travel again, this time to Hawaii.
On her way back to New Zealand, she stopped off in Hong Kong for abrief visit which lasted for 24 years! She found work there as a personal secretary. At the age of 55 she decided to be free of her responsibilities and enjoy life. She loved Hong Kong for its vibrancy, culture and food.
Mavis never married as this was denied her by of her responsibilities to her family. Her youth was spent for the good ofthe family.
Mavis retired in the late 1980’s. In 1990 when in her 70’s she returned to Wellington from Hong Kong to live out her remaining years at Homewood Avenue with youngest sisters Connie and June. There she enjoyed family gatherings,discussed Chinese history and culture and joined the Chinese Anglican Church which she attended regularly. Mavis passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Monday 27September at the age of 94.
Mavis’s life was not easy as she sacrificed her own life for the sake of holding the family together,
a virtue that is seldom seen these days. She truly had an indomitable spirit and the remaining family will miss her tremendously.
Mavis’s funeral was held at the Chinese Anglican Church in Glenmore Street on Tuesday 5 October and at
tended bynumerous family and friends. She is buried in the Tung Jung section at Makara Cemetery.
Adapted from the eulogy by Nigel Murphy at Mavis’s
funeral
.http://www.tungjung.org.nz/images/stories/newsletters/2010/Summer_issue_2010.pdf