Obituary of Jon Lim Chung Yee

Jon Lim Chung Yee was born in the village of Vuck-Hang-Lee in Guandong Province of China on January 5, 1927. Jon was born in the same village as his father and great-grandfather but then moved with his mother Ngue Gee Yee to the village of Shang-Ven-Lee when he was 5 years old. He immigrated to Canada in 1952 to help his father Yee Tun Yee with the family business. Jon returned to China in 1948 to marry his wife Mei Lai and their son Len was born in China soon after that. Both Mei Lai and Len joined Jon in Canada by 1958 and the family has resided in Regina ever since. The family business was a confectionary known as The Loyal Tea Room, which many people in Regina may remember as that happening place on Albert Street near the Regina Museum and SaskTel buildings. The hamburgers there were to die for, a comment weve heard from many a source. Many of you may have stopped by to pickup groceries or a quick bite of lunch and were greeted by Jon and his family with big smiles and even bigger hearts. It was the stopping point for many students in the area as well as people travelling uptown or downtown across Albert Street. Jon continued to run the confectionary until the Loyal Tea Room sadly closed its doors in 1985. It is a piece of Reginas history no more and an era was gone. Jon retired at that point and has since enjoyed his retirement years with his wife Mei Lai Yee, six children and at that time, his 1st grandchild. He also spent much of his time over those years doing volunteer work in the Yees Society, The Chinese Benevolent Society and with the Chinese Pavilion in Mosaics for 25 years. These last few years have not been as socially active for dad but it has not been lacking in things to keep him busy at home. Over the years the family has grown and Jon has become the proud grandfather to 16 grandchildren and was to become a great grandfather in August of this year. It was a exciting prospect for dad!! We are saddened to say our beloved Dad/Grampa passed away peacefully in the early hours on Wednesday, April 4, 2012. Our family has lost a big part of our hearts. We all have bigger than life memories of Dad/Grampa and his ever present smile and laughing eyes. Never without goodies for any of the grandkids, Grampa Yees house became a favorite place to stop and visit for a good dose of warmth and laughter. Jon is predeceased by his parents Yee Tun Yee and Ngue Gee Yee and an older sister in infancy. Jon is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mei Lai, children Len (Michelle) Yee, Jane (Perry) Wilson, Shirley (Walter) Reller, Soo-Jean Yee, Vicki Yee, Tony (Joanne) Yee. Also survived by sixteen grandchildren, Jefferson (Kristie), Jennifer (Jerrod) Briere, Ginette (Matt), Garrett (Megan), Giselle, Jamieson, Jules (Yee), Marshall, Blaise, Christopher (Wilson), Lindsay, Keenan, Taylor (Reller), Alyx, Nicholas (Ho), Alison (Yee); all for whom Grandpa always had a special place for in his heart. Jon is also survived by his cousins Thelfa, Lotus and Gordon Yee-Toi and brother-in-law Ping Sun Tang, his wife and family. Well miss you Dad/Grandpa Yee. Every time we think of that small memory of you that makes each of us smile, we will know how lucky we were to have been your kids/grandkids!! Lubba you!! Special thanks to Dr. Lai and all the physicians and nursing staff at the 4A Unit - Pasqua Hospital, for all the amazing care they provided for Dad/Grampa during his stay there. Public Visitation for family and friends will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina, SK on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 from 6-8:00 p.m. Funeral Service will take place at Speers Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be held at Riverside Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jons memory may be made to the Lung Association of Saskatchewan, 1231 8th Street East, Saskatoon, SK S7H 0S5. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com