Tributes

CELEBRATION OF LIFE of May Ying Mary M. Yang a true Hmong woman and her legacy Mom, your life was a Blessing to each and every one of us. Your memory is a treasure, your love is beyond words and we will miss you beyond measure. You leave us with beautiful memories, your love is still our guide, and though we cannot see you, you’re always by our side. Mom, we miss you. We still cry today, although we cannot make you stay. Your golden heart stopped beating, your hard working hands at rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the good ones. You are THE GOOD ONE MOM. IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER AND ALWAYS, MAY YING MARY M. YANG Born October 1, 1946, in XiengKhang, Laos Entered Into Rest November 22, 2015, in Merced, California. At the tender age of 15 she married the man with whom she would spend the rest of her life, loving, supporting and remaining steadfast over a lifetime filled with obstacles and challenges of being married to a military man and a leader of his people, Mr. Ge Paul Yang. In 1975, she had to flee from the war and seek refuge in a refugee camp in Thailand to ensure the safety of her 8 children and her other sister in law's family. An event I recall at the age of 8 years old, was when we had to cross the Meng kong river. She strapped belts on us in which she sewed with a cloth and placed rice in it, and had me carry a tea kettle with water. At the time, I didn't understand, but as an adult I asked why. She informed me that the rice was to feed us in case we got separated and the water was to help us drink and the belts that tied us together was so to keep us together and that if one of us got lost in the river we would all still be together. We walked for miles to escape the war. Gunshots were everywhere. While she tied the belts, she cautioned us to be quiet, while running in the night, keep vigilant to our surroundings, so we could survive the Viet Nam war. To understand the incredible skills of my mother, one needs to realize that we were in the encampment in Thailand for a year. None of us within my family unit died, this includes my siblings and my cousins, while children around us died from diseases and malnutrition left and right. None of us would be here today if not for our Mother, May Ying Moua. It has been a long-standing tradition of not offering recognition for a Hmong woman and the role that she plays in Hmong society. We wish to take this time to offer recognition to a woman who has shaped our lives, gave us life, love, and encouragement to become who we are today. Her strength to each of us at times is just an offering of silent strength to become the individuals we are today who now stand before you. There are so many people whose lives have been touched by our mother, and by their interaction with her have come away better people. She had no formal education, although her life forced her to learn survival and necessity of community support in order for one to be successful in extremely difficult times. She was a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a sister, a mother, a civil servant, a community leader, and most of all, our hero our queen. She didn't have the opportunity to be formally educated, so encouraged us to pursue our educational goals. Her husband wouldn't have become who he is without her volunteer work behind the scenes, organization building skills collaborating and delegating tasks being the care taker as she is. As the wife to Ge Paul Yang, she gave of herself, she was intelligent and had the heart and compassion to give of her labor time to prepare meals, plan for community events, to bring awareness to the community making a difference in our community a long side of her husband. Her works have led to more Hmong believing in giving more than what one is called upon to give. The development of the belief that woman should be equal and given more roles; that equality is not based on gender, it is based on a person that has compassion to help others. If she could speak to us today, she would beseech us to recognize a true Hmong woman is someone who many not be recognized due to her gender, is false, and a Hmong woman needs to be recognized for her roles. Our Mother, due to her lifetime experience, and her journey of sacrifice has taught us courage and self-sacrifice as an example through her living. As stated previously, she would never allow her children to miss the opportunity to become educated. Our Mother was so pleased to be in America with her family and to see her 9 children succeed today so they could live the dream that she did not have. Being married at age 15, and told she was only just a girl, and the things she would do were second best to anyone's opinion, nor do she have a say as to herself and her childrens' futures. She strongly believed in equality. She supported the dreams and ambitions of her children to enable us to become leaders and to succeed in the careers that we hold today, we want to celebrate her life as a Hmong woman who is a hero and a queen to her children. Her community volunteer work which at times caused her to serve others before us; preparing meals and providing a community cohesiveness with no expectation of credit for the work she did. The idea that behind every successful man is supported by a strong woman holds true for our Mother; even in the role of a civic server under her husband's leadership. She volunteered in a variety of non-paid yet lucrative positions and appreciated every opportunity over the course of 30 years in America. As a veteran's wife, and our personal hero I think it is time that we recognized her and give her the credit she deserves. To reiterate behind every successful man is a strong woman, a friend who is a counselor, a mother to all who needed her; regardless of age, her compassion, her faithfulness and loyalty to God and to her husband. Hmong women view their husband as their world, so she would do everything to please and serve him. Among her peers she is very recognized but however many are brokenhearted that this extraordinary woman she was not in her lifetime, recognized for her influence upon her community due to her gender. She had no support from family, while her husband was away from his family working his career; this is one of the many reasons why our Mother is our hero.

Tributes

May Ying Mary M. Yang

October 1, 1946 - November 22, 2015