November 11, 2011, 10:00 AM
Green Street Mortuary, SF
Welcome and Prayer
God is gracious. He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Psalm 147: 1c, 3, 5; Matt. 11:28, 29; 5:4)
On behalf of daughter Pauline Chen and son-in-law, Jimmy Chen and their family and friends, I welcome you here today to celebrate the life of Mrs. Mei Yung Ng who was born on November 24, 1912 and returned to the Lord on October 31, 2011. She was almost 100 years old. God has blessed her with a long life so that Mrs. Ng can see and enjoy her daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren in this life. She was able to live and thrive in the old world of China and the new world of America. She lived both in the countryside of Toishan as well as in the big cities like Hong Kong and San Francisco. Today we remember and give God praise for a life well lived.
Let us pray.
O God, your care is like that of a father who has compassion for his children and a mother who comforts her child. We cast our heavy burdens of grief on you. Deal graciously with us in our sorrow. Grant us comfort of your rest. Assure us with the confidence that your faithful servant has been received into the arms of your mercy, in the blessed rest of your eternal care. May our lives hereafter bear witness to the hope that is ours in the crucified and risen Christ, who defeated death for our sake and now reigns victorious in your glory. Through his name we pray. Amen.
Scripture 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Frank Chen
Biography Don Ng
Memories from Grandchildren Lindsey Chan
Reflection Meaning of Life Don Ng
When people gather together to remember a loved one who is now departed, the question that is in our hearts is: “What is the meaning of life?’ The Bible tells us: Everyone who love is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). We can say that the meaning of life is to love and to be loved. Mei Yung Ng loved her family and you loved her. She knew the meaning of life.
Mrs. Ng understood the meaning of life. She knew, and practiced, the importance of love. Although I did not know her in this life nor did she attended our church, she knew God through love—through the concern and help and kindness she offered to other people, and through the goodness she received from others. In the end, this is not a bad way to know God, for as the Bible tells us, “God is love.” We can give thanks that the God who created her and put her in this world to live in love, has now received her into his eternal kingdom.
God made Mrs. Ng a part of his good creation. She was a devoted wife, a good mother, a caring grandmother, and a loyal friend. She took good care of her household by caring for her grandchildren and their cousins by making and presenting home cooked meals. She has taught them and demonstrated for them how to bring the wisdom and remedies of the old country to benefit and enrich their lives in America today. She was a loyal friend for a long time with those who lived in the senior citizens complex.
In Proverbs 31, we read about what a capable woman is like.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant with sashes.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates. (Proverbs 31:24-31).
We are told that Mrs. Ng created many different kinds of crafts and gifts that she freely shared and gave to her family. These were paper crafts, boxes within boxes, lanterns, peacocks made out of plastic, mardi gras masks, origami and others. Just as the writer of Proverbs said, “Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates,” Mrs. Ng has given you many of her handicrafts that you can treasure for the rest of your lives. Every time you see these wonderful creations, you will remember how she patiently and carefully made them with her own hands. These gifts from her reflect her unselfishness and generosity teaching us that we must also share and give generously to others as well. What a wonderful legacy she has blessed you with!
While Mrs. Ng did not have a religious vocabulary, she certainly had religious impulses. She knew that she was put in this world for a purpose, and she was not afraid of living life regardless of what happens—relocating to new places to live, managing a household, and facing each new day with courage and hope. She had an appreciation for the cycles of life, knowing that, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die…a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” For Mrs. Ng, she lived a long life of almost 100 years of a season for everything under heaven. She can teach us that there will be times of laughing, speaking and embracing and there will be times of weeping, keeping silence and refrain from embracing. Mrs. Ng has taught you that when we are in step with the rhythm of God’s creation, we are part of God’s wonderful plan.
We give thanks today that our Lord created Mei Young Ng and gave her the ability to live a life of love and truth. We can be grateful that God was with Mrs. Ng as she walked through the valley of the shadow of death, and that he gave her protection, comfort and peace. In her last days, we can trust in God that she found God’s peace and turned her eyes to the unseen things that are eternal.
We gather today to celebrate the goodness of Mei Yung Ng; to give thanks for her love and spirit; to forgive her for her sins and shortcomings; to say goodbye and to remember. But at the same time, we celebrate the even greater goodness of our Lord God, and thank him for his love, seen so clearly in Jesus Christ; for his Holy Spirit, which gives us strength and hope; for his gift of forgiveness and promise of everlasting life.
The meaning of life is love, a meaning we can make our own as we remember Mrs. Ng, and as we serve our loving Lord to the best of our abilities.
Let us pray. We thank you, God, that the meaning of life is love. We praise you for being at the heart of this great truth, and for giving all who love a chance to know you. Your child, Mei Yung Ng knew and practiced the importance of love and giving, and we are thankful that she came to know you through her loving and giving actions and her appreciation for the cycles of your creation. You gave her the ability to live a life of love and truthfulness.
Grant us now your peace as we mourn her death, as we forgive her sins and shortcomings, and as we celebrate her love and spirit. As grateful as we are for her goodness, we are even more thankful for yours, O God. You are the one who gives life meaning and who offers us the gift of everlasting life. We thank you that nothing in all creation can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is in his name we pray. Amen.
Word of Thanks Stanley Chen
Announcements
Immediately following this service and you having come forward to pay your last respect and greet the family, the interment will be at Hoy Sun Memorial Cemetery, 2101 Hillside Blvd., Colma. The family invites you to come to the Memorial Meal at Moon Star Buffet, Gellert and Hickey Blvds, Daly City following the interment.
Benediction
Jesus said, “Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
I challenge you to believe that Mei Yung Ng is enjoying that peace right now and that; if you keep the faith, this peace shall await you too.
And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Committal Service
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. (John 11:25-26)
“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, we commend to God’s merciful care our sister, Mei Yung Ng; and we commit her body to this final resting place: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
“Blessed are the dead who…die in the Lord…they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.” (Revelations 14:13)
Let us pray.
Merciful God, you created us in your own image, perhaps because you were lonely. You created us as members of families, so that none of us should ever be lonely. You share our grief when the family circle is broken and we experience loneliness and sorrow, because someone we have loved and counted on has left us. Grant us strength to face our loss, with the assurance that Mei Yung Ng’s return to you has not broken our family circle, but only extended it beyond this earthly scene into the heavens that your children share with you, thanks to the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen.
Paying last respects.
We thank you again for your presence here today. You are cordially invited to attend the Memorial Meal at the Moon Star Restaurant, Gellert and Hickey, Daly City where the family look forward to greeting you.
Go with God’s peace.