Mary Ko Bong's Funeral

Today (Tuesday, February 1st, 2011) was Mary Ko Bong's viewing and funeral. It was held at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel on 467 Sherbourne Street south of Wellesley. I got there early with my friend. Ed, from our church was already there. He was waiting downstairs where the coffee machine was. The next people to arrive were Mary's neighbours, a young couple named Nicole and Chris. They were actually the people who found Mary that fateful Monday last week.

It was good to have a chance to talk with them. Beforehand we had only received sparse details of what may have happened to her. They cleared things up for us a bit by telling us what they knew. We knew she was found outside, but not much more. During the week Tony updated me saying that she had gone out shopping at No Frills. Nicole and Chris mentioned that they found her sitting, passed away, in her walker right in front of her door. Her keys to the door were at her feet. She had an emergency call pendant, but she never used it. Tony thinks she may have walked to the No Frills. I believe Chris and Nicole mentioned that another neighbour saw her being dropped off at her place by a taxi. It was an extremely cold weekend last week. And the sidewalks in her neighbourhood weren't cleared of snow very well. I'd be a bit surprised if she did venture out in such conditions. But, as many people have said, she was quite independent, possibly even headstrong. So you never know. Anyway, Nicole and Chris, said she looked peaceful when they found her. We were certainly glad to hear that.

Pastor Tom led the service. He, too, spoke about Mary's independent spirit. He also mentioned she visited the boarding homes with me (though he got the details wrong). He thought the people we visited were homeless or had drinking problems or something. They actually have mental illness. He also related a story about how Mary had made a small cross with a poem for his daughter Justine when she went off to university (Western Ontario). It was a sweet gesture to keep her spirits up while she was away from home.

Tony and a lady named Dora spoke too. Dora spoke about Mary's military service. How she was one of the few Chinese women to enlist in the Canadian army in World War II back in 1943. She was a instrument mechanic in Hamilton. They made optics for binoculars and compasses. As well she did entertainment the troops. She had classical training in both singing and dancing.

Tony spoke about her different interests such as stone carving and painting. Many of Mary's rock club members were in attendance. As well he talked of her adventurous spirit like when she worked in a hospital in England and traveled solo across Europe. I believe she mentioned to me at one time that she hitch hiked while she was over there.

Tony did a lot of work over the past week in preparing for the funeral. As the picture above shows he gathered quite a few items including family photos, artwork and carvings to give us a glimpse of the well rounded woman she was. It was a lovely tribute to a wonderful lady. Anyone lucky enough to meet her was truly blessed. Thank-you, Mary.