Post by NZBC on Jun 4, 2013 21:31:05 GMT 12
Obituary......
JIM WONG
黃顯東
樣⁖䥌䱁
白石村
7 AUGUST 1929
-
11 SEPTEMBER 2012
Jim Wong, the only son and 4th child of six siblings, was born in Canton city on 7 August,
1929 to WONG PANG KWAI 黃圾桂 and LUEY CHOCK ON 呂祝安 of Bak Shek village in Jungshen, Guangzhou.
The family lived a comfortable suburban existence and had schooling until the Japanese
army invaded China in 1937 and commenced bombing railways etc. in Guangzhou. They
then evacuated to Bak Shek village, and later to Hong Kong and thence to Wellington, arriv-
ing in September 1938 when Jim was 9 years old. The family lived temporarily in premises
on Lambton Quay, until his parents bought a property in Riddiford Street, Newtown operating a fruit shop known as G.W.Pang.
Jim attended Newtown School, then progressed to Wellington Technical College and from there to Victoria University to study engineering with a view to becoming an archaeologist. However his academic career was cut short when upon the sudden death of his father, he decided to take up the reins and help his sisters run the family business.
Family loyalty and support was of paramount importance to Jim , a passion he demonstrated later in life with his own children and grandchildren.
During this period Jim met and married Lorraine Young, and shortly after that their eldest son Nigel was born. After the family business G.W. Pang was sold, they bought the Hospital Confectionery in Newtown which flourished under their friendly management and their excellent stock of fresh flowers was legendary. Many hospital doctors,nurses and porters also frequented Jim's shop, not only to purchase but to enjoy a yarn or a joke with JIm and it seems his warmth and sense of humour was therapeutic even for them.
Also during that busy period they raised 6 children : Nigel, Tony, David, Lesley, Brenda and Joanne. They lived on the premises but in 1973, they built their family home in Miramar which not only afforded them more space , but also gave time out from the shop. Jim loved gardening and planted many ornamental shrubs and also cultivated attractiveindoor plants .
After they sold the Dairy, Jim worked for the late Nelson Young , then at Market Gardeners and finally for Wing On Chang before retiring in in 1990. His wife Lorraine passed away in 1995 and as their children left home, Jim moved to a smaller house .During this period Jim and his family and their partners embarked on an eventful journey to China where they visited their native Bak Shek village and also met Lorraine's relatives in Nga Yiel village. As ill health beset him in later years, he moved to the Te Hopai Rest Home in Newtown .
Jim (like his father before him) served on the Tung Jung committee for some years and earlier was a stalwart of the Chinese Baptist Church, regularly collecting children to attend Sunday School and helping whenever needed. His interests were many and varied and being the keen fisherman he was, often rose early before opening the shop, to indulge his passion. Sport was another great love and he'd follow rugby and cricket avidly on TV. A highlight for this rugby fanatic was attending the Rugby World Cup in South Africa in 1995. Being an animal lover, he owned a succession of cats and dogs and most latterly a rosella ( an Australian parrot) which was a lively and colourful companion for him. Good food was another great love and he became a competent cook, often treating his family to a sumptuous spread..
Jim had a great sense of humour and he was popular with old and young alike, the latter of whom affectionately referred to him as "Uncle Jim". Above all he was always ready with a listening ear and with practical help when approached.
His funeral was held at Old St Pauls in Wellington 17th September 2012 and was attended by many friends and relatives.
He is survived by his children Nigel, Tony, David, Lesley, Brenda and Joanne and their families Eileen Chan www.tungjung.org.nz/images/stories/newsletters/2012/Summer_issue__2012_amended.pdf
JIM WONG
黃顯東
樣⁖䥌䱁
白石村
7 AUGUST 1929
-
11 SEPTEMBER 2012
Jim Wong, the only son and 4th child of six siblings, was born in Canton city on 7 August,
1929 to WONG PANG KWAI 黃圾桂 and LUEY CHOCK ON 呂祝安 of Bak Shek village in Jungshen, Guangzhou.
The family lived a comfortable suburban existence and had schooling until the Japanese
army invaded China in 1937 and commenced bombing railways etc. in Guangzhou. They
then evacuated to Bak Shek village, and later to Hong Kong and thence to Wellington, arriv-
ing in September 1938 when Jim was 9 years old. The family lived temporarily in premises
on Lambton Quay, until his parents bought a property in Riddiford Street, Newtown operating a fruit shop known as G.W.Pang.
Jim attended Newtown School, then progressed to Wellington Technical College and from there to Victoria University to study engineering with a view to becoming an archaeologist. However his academic career was cut short when upon the sudden death of his father, he decided to take up the reins and help his sisters run the family business.
Family loyalty and support was of paramount importance to Jim , a passion he demonstrated later in life with his own children and grandchildren.
During this period Jim met and married Lorraine Young, and shortly after that their eldest son Nigel was born. After the family business G.W. Pang was sold, they bought the Hospital Confectionery in Newtown which flourished under their friendly management and their excellent stock of fresh flowers was legendary. Many hospital doctors,nurses and porters also frequented Jim's shop, not only to purchase but to enjoy a yarn or a joke with JIm and it seems his warmth and sense of humour was therapeutic even for them.
Also during that busy period they raised 6 children : Nigel, Tony, David, Lesley, Brenda and Joanne. They lived on the premises but in 1973, they built their family home in Miramar which not only afforded them more space , but also gave time out from the shop. Jim loved gardening and planted many ornamental shrubs and also cultivated attractiveindoor plants .
After they sold the Dairy, Jim worked for the late Nelson Young , then at Market Gardeners and finally for Wing On Chang before retiring in in 1990. His wife Lorraine passed away in 1995 and as their children left home, Jim moved to a smaller house .During this period Jim and his family and their partners embarked on an eventful journey to China where they visited their native Bak Shek village and also met Lorraine's relatives in Nga Yiel village. As ill health beset him in later years, he moved to the Te Hopai Rest Home in Newtown .
Jim (like his father before him) served on the Tung Jung committee for some years and earlier was a stalwart of the Chinese Baptist Church, regularly collecting children to attend Sunday School and helping whenever needed. His interests were many and varied and being the keen fisherman he was, often rose early before opening the shop, to indulge his passion. Sport was another great love and he'd follow rugby and cricket avidly on TV. A highlight for this rugby fanatic was attending the Rugby World Cup in South Africa in 1995. Being an animal lover, he owned a succession of cats and dogs and most latterly a rosella ( an Australian parrot) which was a lively and colourful companion for him. Good food was another great love and he became a competent cook, often treating his family to a sumptuous spread..
Jim had a great sense of humour and he was popular with old and young alike, the latter of whom affectionately referred to him as "Uncle Jim". Above all he was always ready with a listening ear and with practical help when approached.
His funeral was held at Old St Pauls in Wellington 17th September 2012 and was attended by many friends and relatives.
He is survived by his children Nigel, Tony, David, Lesley, Brenda and Joanne and their families Eileen Chan www.tungjung.org.nz/images/stories/newsletters/2012/Summer_issue__2012_amended.pdf