Dear Bill and family,

Bill “Bubba” Burke is our brother and has been a dear friend of you and Gloria for many years.  We were blessed to have met you both many years ago.  We are saddened for your loss of your dear Gloria and are thankful for your amazing legacy of  75 years of marriage.  We know you miss her tremendously. Praying the comfort and peace of the Lord upon you all as you hold the many wonderful memories in your hearts.  Love goes on forever.

Gary and Susan (Burke) Osborn

I don’t remember exactly when I started piano lessons with Mrs Wong. It was my four sisters and me. We came from Japan a few years earlier and learned the Suzuki Method of learning to read piano music so I was kinda messed up with the new method being taught in the US. I struggled with reading music, but I never felt that Mrs Wong (sorry, just can’t call her Gloria) was being impatient or frustrated.

My family life was very chaotic and sad with my Japanese national mother and American father trying to acclimate with six children in a strange land called Hawaii.

There were several times where I went for my lesson but played nothing on the piano. I would sit there crying with my piano teacher being my “therapist” gently reassuring me that everything would be okay.

I could have turned out to be a very different human being. One that I would not have been proud of. Mrs Wong is one of several important people in my life who “saved” me. They helped to change the trajectory of my life

I continued to visit Mrs Wong on my trips back to Hawaii from Wisconsin where I now live. She always treated me with respect and displayed no judgement ever. Always talking to me in her gentle manner letting me know everything will be okay.

I wish I had been able to see her before she passed. We were in Hawaii where I was getting married to the man of my dreams, and I had wanted her and Mr Wong to meet Randy. That was not to happen. They just moved into a new facility and we were told that they could not receive any guests until they were better acclimated. We were denied requests for a FaceTime or telephone call as well.

Of course I understand their reasoning But it was very unfortunate and untimely

Two days after we got back home, Mrs Wong passed away.

I will always have her in my heart as the amazing human being who helped me to navigate my world at a very difficult time in my life, and who was always happy to celebrate my good times.

Thank you Mrs Wong, I will never forget your gift to me.

Fly with the angels.

I love you.

Diana 

Here is a fond memory about Gloria Wong:

When I was a new member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Senior Bible study group, I would play my guitar and we would sing songs from a book that the members had created of their favorite praise songs. Pastor Jeff Mueller asked me to sing a song for a Sunday service and I chose "Amazing Grace".  However, I did not sing that song at the service because the worship team leader Bob Mitchell had already chosen it. So Gloria suggested that I sing one of the other songs that I did with the Bible study group and she suggested "Kanaka Waiwai". I thank her to this day for the confidence she placed in me.

Whenever I would visit her when she was in the Plaza assisted living facility, she would request songs and we'd sing them together. The last song we sang together was "Unto Thee, O Lord". As I prayed for her by her bedside before she passed, I recited the Serenity Prayer and also quietly sang "Unto Thee, O Lord". 🙏

I will always remember Gloria Wong not only for her strong Christian beliefs, but her devoted love for her husband Bill Wong, which was an example that anyone could follow if they wanted a lasting and loving Christian relationship.

I will miss Mrs Wong and remember her fondly for her boundless grace and compassion.  She is a beautiful reflection of God’s goodness. 

My heart goes out to all her loved ones.