Read Saw Ee "Yaya" Wong's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Saw Ee "Yaya" Wong

Altadena, CA

October 25, 1928 - January 11, 2022

Oct 25, 1928 - Jan 11, 2022

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Saw Ee Wong was born on October 19, 1928 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her early childhood years coincided with the worldwide depression and that experience instilled in her the strength to work hard and overcome obstacles to succeed. World War II came to Malaysia in the early 1940s when she was a teen, and her education was cut short as everyone was merely trying to survive. During the late 1940s, the beautiful Saw Ee (as the pictures on this memorial will attest!) met the love of her life, the very handsome Sonny Wong, and they married on December 31, 1951.

They welcomed their first child, Wee Kee, in October 1955. Their son, Steve, arrived in February 1962, followed by their youngest daughter, Wee Ling in January 1966. The now five-strong Wong family lived in a cute three bedroom single story house in Petaling Jaya (PJ). This house fulfilled Saw Ee's dream of owning her own home, and she took pride in decorating it with simple, but elegant furnishings surrounded by many tropical plants. Saw Ee spent much of her free time gardening, a lifelong hobby. She and her husband enjoyed entertaining guests and often hosted dinner parties in her garden. It became apparent that Saw Ee's talent and passion was cooking in the traditional style of Nyonya, which she learned from her mother. She frequently cooked for family and her many friends throughout her life, and was considered by all who knew her to be an extraordinary chef.

Starting in the early 1950s, Saw Ee started her career as an administrative assistance, progressing to an accounting assistant at the Ford Foundation. In July 1973, she and Sonny made the bold, life-changing decision to immigrate to the United States to afford their children better educational opportunities. They initially settled in New Orleans where she took a position as an assistant chef at a Chinese restaurant. She worked at that restaurant in the evenings and as an administrative assistant during the day, starting first at an insurance company and then at Tulane Medical Center. While these jobs paid the bills, Saw Ee and Sonny wanted something more fulfilling, so they started their own business that showcased what Saw Ee exceled at - cooking!

Saw Ee and Sonny decided to relocate to Tucson, AZ in the August 1978, just prior to the birth of their first grandchild, Mark. In Tucson, they started Selamat Makan Restaurant, specializing in Malaysian cuisine. They worked hard building this locally revered restaurant and Saw Ee's cooking gained a loyal customer base. Saw Ee, Sonny, and their family made many friends through the restaurant, most especially their lifelong friends, Jim and Selena Fein, and their daughter, Samantha.

After retiring from the restaurant in 1996, and with the arrival of their second grandchild, Anthony, in December 1999, Saw Ee and Sonny decided to uproot one more time to Southern California to be near their new grandchild and their children, Steve and Wee Ling. Saw Ee and Sonny thoroughly embraced their roles as grandparents to Anthony and their youngest grandchild, Alexandra (born July 1999) by cooking and caring for them, and driving them to and from school and activities. In the later 2000s, they connected with Saw Ee's great niece Joanna Daniel when she moved to the US with her husband, Sheryl. Joanna and Sheryl, and their children, Sasha and Tricia, became close family through the years - her "children" as she referred to them - and we cannot thank them enough for the love and care they bestowed on Saw Ee and Sonny through the years.

Saw Ee and Sonny were active in church for most of their lives. Their love, generosity, kindness, resolve and incredible strength was rooted in their unwavering faith in God. This faith brought great joy and peace to their lives, as well as providing them courage and fortitude to persevere through the hardships and unfairness life would bring, most notably the untimely passing of their daughter, Wee Kee, in January 2007. When Wee Kee relocated to Pasadena following the loss of her home in New Orleans to hurricane Katrina, and battling her illness, they cared for her with amazing love and grace. Their ability to transcend their grief and carry on in life with love and kindness was an inspiration to all who knew them.

Along with God, Saw Ee's and Sonny's family was their most important focus. The sacrifices she and Sonny made for their children were rewarded with all 3 excelling academically and professionally - they were over-the-moon proud of their children and grandchildren. Their sacrifice, hard work and unconditional support and love is so very appreciated and can never be adequately repaid.

Saw Ee is predeceased by her husband, Sonny (December 2, 2020), her daughter Wee Kee (January 1, 2007), and her sister Low Saw Gaik (October 26, 1979). She leaves behind her son Steve (Ai Cheng) Wong, daughter Wee Ling Wong, grandson Mark Brody, grandson Anthony Kyriakakis, granddaughter Alexandra Kyriakakis, great-grandson Remy Brody, great-granddaughter Lucy Brody, daughter-in-law Linda Wong (Steve), son-in-law Doug Thierren (Wee Kee), great-niece Joanna Daniels and her husband Sheryl and their children, Sasha and Tricia; and her dear friends the Fein family (Jim, Selena and Samantha).

May you rest in peace, Saw Ee. We miss you and always will. With all our love forever.

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to American Cancer Society.

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