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Eulogy Helen Ip Helen did not have a fabulous life. However, her last six years of life was remarkable. She was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer in 1998. She was not in a panic when she was told by the nervous GYN doctor. She was very calm and accepted it as a fact of life that she might have to battle for the rest of her life. Since then, she had gone through 3 major surgeries, 4 chemotherapies, 3 radiation treatments, more than 100 days of hospitalization and countless CT scans, MRI, and X-ray. She ended up lying at home for 7 months, wearing a colostomy pouch for stool, 2 urine bags from the nephrostomy tubes inserted into the kidneys, a small baby pouch attached to the mucus fistula to drain out odorous fluid, a catheter inserted into the cancerous bladder, and an IV line with pain medicine. Helen was a remarkable person who could endure so much pain caused by tumors and so much inconvenience in daily life with the bags and pouches she carried. Normally, she was by no means a person who could bear any pain at all. On the contrary, she would scream loud just over a small cut on her finger. Yet there was no shortage of big laughs and smiles on her face in the last six years. Life went on as usual for her. She was busy on Saturday for half a year as a principal of a small Chinese school in Dallas. She taught Bible over the telephone to one of her Godsons every Wednesday night for more than a year. She continued to be a member of the Region of Mary in her parish church until she had her first chemotherapy. She enjoyed shopping and dining out with friends. Her pain was a bit relieved with her good busy life. Helen was a devout Catholic. She had never lost her faith in God. In her last days, she treated her sufferings as a gift of God. She experienced the gift of God fully and completely. Then, in return, she offered herself wholly as a gift to God at one of her bedside Masses at home. Her very last prayer to God on February 7, 5:00am, after the second profuse bleeding from the tumor, was very soft but clear, “God, please love more people on earth”. She was very well prepared to see God. She passed away on February 13, Friday, at 3:30pm, calmly and peacefully, with a smile on her angel face. In the whole life of Helen, she was very task oriented. She wanted to complete all tasks as perfectly as possible. She was very gifted as a teacher. She might not have a well-written teaching plan for her lessons, but by the minute she walked into the classroom, she had everything she needed in order. She taught religious education and psychology with lots of funny examples. She managed to teach a French class without knowing much French in Canada. She was very gifted as a student as well. She studied only at the last minute before an examination. She had lots of good friends, male and female, everywhere. One of her beloved nieces, Christine, made Helen a very special Christmas card while Helen was quite sick in bed last Christmas. What she wrote down on the card really depicted what Helen really was. "Remember when you asked me what I liked to dream about. I will tell you about my favorite dream. I dreamt about how lucky I was to have God giving me an aunt, so beautiful, in mind and also in spirit, as you. And when I woke up, I realized it was not a dream. It is real. I am so blessed to have you as my aunt. You are such an inspiration, so genuine, so witty. Anyone would be a fool not to love you." "What could I possibly give to a woman as you, Helen, with all these virtues - Love, Grace, Beauty, Peace, and Happiness?" Helen, we always remember you deep in our heart, and we always love you. Sweet journey home. Your beloved husband and companion - Roque Home Index Front Cover Back Cover Previous Next Pictures Donation |