Eulogy
As many of you know, Fu Hung in Chinese literally means 'great wealth'. You may also know that Dad was in excellent health which is considered by most to be the basis of wealth. Dad was born in the year of the ox and he was strong like an ox. Dadexercised daily and until 2 months ago, could swim 20 laps after an hour on the treadmill. Dad was very proud of the fact that he can do more sit-ups and push-ups than me.
If you've ever shared a meal with him, you might also think his wealth is demonstrated by his immense appetite. Dad once told me that his father took great pride in his ability to finish all the dishes on the banquet table. However, when it came time for the check, he seemed to have difficulty finding his wallet which is an unfortunate Hahka habit that I have inherited.
As many of you know, Fu Hung in Chinese literally means 'great wealth'. You may also know that Dad was in excellent health which is considered by most to be the basis of wealth. Dad was born in the year of the ox and he was strong like an ox. Dadexercised daily and until 2 months ago, could swim 20 laps after an hour on the treadmill. Dad was very proud of the fact that he can do more sit-ups and push-ups than me.
If you've ever shared a meal with him, you might also think his wealth is demonstrated by his immense appetite. Dad once told me that his father took great pride in his ability to finish all the dishes on the banquet table. However, when it came time for the check, he seemed to have difficulty finding his wallet which is an unfortunate Hahka habit that I have inherited.
The Hahka people are well known for being frugal. In fact, dad used to boast that he had friends all over North America, China and Southeast Asia so he never needed to spend a dime for accommodation when he traveled. Whenever I traveled abroad, dad would always arrange a meeting with some family friend that I‘ve never met before. This used to annoy me until I realized that he truly had a wealth of friendships. These strangers embraced me with such warmth and kindness only because I am my father's son. In fact, that was exactly how I met my wife, through a former colleague of dad’s whom I stayed with when I did my externship in Portland.
Dad grew up in a small town in Indonesia where he was known as ‘busy body'. At the age of 5, he helped the Dutch soldiers dispense water to the town people when they had a water shortage and ever since then he just couldn't resist helping others sometimes at great cost to himself. He always took time to keep in touch with his friends thru letters, e-mails and phone calls.
Dad grew up in a small town in Indonesia where he was known as ‘busy body'. At the age of 5, he helped the Dutch soldiers dispense water to the town people when they had a water shortage and ever since then he just couldn't resist helping others sometimes at great cost to himself. He always took time to keep in touch with his friends thru letters, e-mails and phone calls.
Another of dad’s great wealth is his strong sense of family value. At the tender age of 18, he was sent by his mother to locate his long lost grandmother in Thailand armed with only her name and the town that she lived in. Then later, at her bequest, he brought his grandmother to Taiwan so they could be reunited. After some time however, his father asked him to bring her back to Thailand. Finally, at the request of his grandmother, he brought his two teenage nieces to Taiwan to be educated. He pretty much did what was asked of him by his parents.
Dad was also very involved in the lives of his grandchildren. He was their swim coach, Chinese school teacher, math tutor, music critic and on occasions, babysitter; he was a quick study at changing diapers. His great wealth came through hard work. Dad grew up in war time Indonesia where he sold peanuts in movie theaters and managed his family grocery store with his older sister.
At a very young age, he learned the value of hard work, being persistent and calculated risk taking. There were very few things that he could not accomplish after setting his mind to it. Consequently, Dad placed a great deal of faith in himself. It wasn’t until terminal cancer and death stared him in the eyes that he completely and willingly surrendered his life to Christ. Dad accepted this fate with quiet resolve, immense courage and dignity. My brother and I were by his side when he took his last breath and I can say with certainty that he went peacefully and that the next breath he took would be in the presence of our Lord.
My father is Hahka and he has certainly passed on many of his Hahka legacies to my brothers and me. When translated, Hahka means ‘guest’ or ‘’sojourner’ and legend has it that we were once nobility that fled from the Mongolians of the north. Whether this is true or not, I couldn’t tell you. But what I do know is that dad is now among the chosen people of God and he is finally home.
Dad was also very involved in the lives of his grandchildren. He was their swim coach, Chinese school teacher, math tutor, music critic and on occasions, babysitter; he was a quick study at changing diapers. His great wealth came through hard work. Dad grew up in war time Indonesia where he sold peanuts in movie theaters and managed his family grocery store with his older sister.
At a very young age, he learned the value of hard work, being persistent and calculated risk taking. There were very few things that he could not accomplish after setting his mind to it. Consequently, Dad placed a great deal of faith in himself. It wasn’t until terminal cancer and death stared him in the eyes that he completely and willingly surrendered his life to Christ. Dad accepted this fate with quiet resolve, immense courage and dignity. My brother and I were by his side when he took his last breath and I can say with certainty that he went peacefully and that the next breath he took would be in the presence of our Lord.
My father is Hahka and he has certainly passed on many of his Hahka legacies to my brothers and me. When translated, Hahka means ‘guest’ or ‘’sojourner’ and legend has it that we were once nobility that fled from the Mongolians of the north. Whether this is true or not, I couldn’t tell you. But what I do know is that dad is now among the chosen people of God and he is finally home.
David Lee
