Obituary for Lai Jing Lee (née Man)

 It is with both sorrow and gratitude that we celebrate the life of Lai Jing Lee, née Man, who passed away on September 29, 2024, at the MUHC Hospital at the age of 94.

Born in 1929, Lai Jing had a remarkable journey that spanned continents, family milestones, and a multitude of adventures. In 1958, she married her husband, Yu Chiu Lee, and together they raised six children: Roger (Theresa), Grant (Kit), Susan, Mike (Judy), William (Sandra), and Robert, her steadfast caregiver during her final years. She was a proud grandmother (Mah Mah) to eight grandchildren—Eric (Angela), Vanessa (Brandon), Spencer (Julia), Collin (Maya), Justin, Tyler, Kathryn, and Nolan—and great-grandmother to Joelle, Isla, and Ellis.

Lai Jing led a life of hard work and dedication to her family. She was a talented master seamstress who, despite learning very little English during her 60 years in Canada, made a lasting impact in her profession. She worked closely with fashion designers, including Anne Marie, with whom she transcended language barriers to perfect dress designs and assembly lines. Her skill and contributions were widely recognized, even as she communicated solely in a mixture of Chinese, broken English, and animated hand gestures.

Although her working hours were long, her greatest joy came from her family. She lovingly sewed clothes for her children and grandchildren, with her grandchildren fondly referring to their custom outfits as "Mah Mah" pants and "Mah Mah" shirts. She even designed and hand-stitched dresses for her great-granddaughter when she physically could no longer operate a sewing machine.

Her entrepreneurial spirit shone through as she supported other women in her sewing circle, offering them piecework and helping them support their families. She was ahead of her time enabling work-from-home long before it became common.

Lai Jing also had a passion for travel, frequently visiting family and friends across the globe. For her, it wasn’t the destination that mattered, but the journey and the people she cherished along the way. She also embraced trying new foods, always excited to explore new flavours.

Lai Jing’s resilience, hard work, and dedication to family left an indelible mark on those she loved. She is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many friends old and young. Her family will forever be grateful for the lessons she taught them about honest work, perseverance, and family unity.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at the MUHC Hospital for their compassionate care during Lai Jing’s final days.

“You’ve had a long life. You’ve worked so hard. You’ve taught us that family needs to stick together. We love you and miss you. You’ve earned your rest, Mom.”

A visitation will be held on October 17, 2024, from 2-8 PM at the Aeterna Funeral Complex, Rue 55 Gince, Montreal (Ville St-Laurent).