June 21 2018: TONG, Beatrice J.

BEATRICE JOK TONG

Passed peacefully on Sunday, June 10, 2018 of Potomac, MD.  Born in Leechburg, PA to the late Yee Share Jok and the late Wong Shee Jok, she was valedictorian of her high school and bravely moved to Washington, DC to begin her career.  She met the love of her life, Gordon, and the two started their family of three grateful children.  Continuing to work fulltime (receiving several service awards), she also ran the household, raised the children, took care of her husband, sewed, decorated, hosted social events.  When Gordon retired and had a second career in social work (receiving Washingtonian of the Year award 1983), Beatrice accompanied and helped him all along the way, including acquisition of realtors’ licenses to help Vietnamese refugees find housing. During her retirement years, she delighted in being a positive and loving influence on all four of her grandchildren. She was incredibly cheerful, optimistic, beautiful (inside and outside), supportive, and energetic; everyone will miss her delightful Christmas letters handwritten with exquisite penmanship. While she will be missed beyond words, may all those who knew her continue to share the hope, quiet strength and encouragement that she always shared with us.

Beloved wife of 49 years of the late Gordon J. Tong, who passed away in 1998;  loving mother of G. Michael Tong and his wife Linda; the late Candice G. Tong who passed away in 1996; Sandra Tong Starksen and her husband Niel;  grandmother of Monica Tong, Winston Tong, Preston Tong and Marie Starksen;  sister of the late Lois Yee (San, deceased), Dorothy Chin (David, deceased), Virginia Yee Wray (James, deceased) and the late Thate Dun (aka William) Jok (Michaeline); aunt of Johnny Yee, Doo Kee Yee (deceased), Doo Ming Yee, Mona Yee, Alan Chin, Cyndy Doll-Chin, Wayne Yee, Elise Jok Tamerlane.