Yee Yeat Mae Leon 又名嫲嫲
政府称她为 Yee Yeat Mae Leon。
对于我们其他人来说，她是嫲嫲或阿婆。
嫲嫲于1924年10月10日出生于中国广东省台山市城西桂水乡。她和哥哥由母亲抚养长大，父亲则在加州北部的农场打工挣钱寄回家。尽管她只是通过父亲寄来的信和母亲讲述的故事认识了她的父亲，但嫲嫲是在一个温暖而充满爱的家庭中长大的。她是一个活泼、善良、乐于助人的孩子。她经常在村子里跑来跑去，口袋里装满了自家种的花生和来自同样爱她的家人和村民的糖果。作为母亲唯一的女儿，她在快乐和自由中长大。 （3岁时，她有足够的自由，可以不穿裤子在村子里咯咯地跑，直到被邻居责骂.）虽然当时很少有女孩上学，但她热爱学习，坚持不懈，甚至在过了当地的教育系统批准的年纪后继续接受教育。
从事教育工作20多年
嫲嫲是一位富有富有爱心、乐于奉献的人。因为她希望培育下一代，功读台山女师学校（后来更名为台山华侨中学）。她在育才小学任教多年，是一位优秀的老师。当她和老师们沿着河走回家时，两岸的学生都会喊“余老师, 余老师”！”引得其他老师调侃她比毛泽东还受欢迎。她热爱教学，经常谈论自己的经历。对于有困难的学生，她给他们买学习用具和衣服——她不想因为缺少学习工具或新衣服而妨碍他们上学。她还特别关心生病的学生更带他们去看医生、接受治疗, 使学生家长能安心工作。她移民到美国后，学生们时常来看望她，她和学生的爱是双向的。她非常享受每次的师生聚会，最近一次聚会是在 2023 年 3 月他们有来自三番市，有的来自纽约，有的来自波士顿, 在我们后园烧烤，他们取笑老师头生，学生老，欢笑声不停。
移民美国并在美国生活
嫲嫲于 1974 年抵达美国。她移民到美国与丈夫团聚。不久之后，她的女儿和儿子跟她们团聚。他们搬到了佛罗里达州奥克兰公园，住在一间卧室的公寓里。他们没有多少钱，集中精力攒钱买房子——嫲嫲在那里住了 40 多年（她真的很喜欢房子、种菜的大院子和她的邻居)。
她报名参加成人教育学习英语并完成了为期 9 个月的课程。虽然她无法继续在美国教书，但她发现学习英语是一个有趣的挑战。几年后，当她准备入籍面试时，它派上了用场。
她在莫里森自助餐厅工作，在那里她了解了经典的美国美食：土豆沙拉、生奶油果冻、鸡肉沙拉、胡萝卜和葡萄干沙拉、虾鸡尾酒和感恩节堆栈（土豆泥、馅料、火鸡堆在一起并放在上面）配肉汁和蔓越莓酱）。两个月后，她开始受到经理的表扬，并获得加薪和认可。尽管她喜欢在这里工作并遇到了很多好人，但她离开了这份工作为了抚养她的孙子（她很喜欢他们!)
嫲嫲关于长寿的建议
(你不会每天都99岁!)
这一切都始于您收到的爱。嫲嫲将她的母亲的爱、亲戚群体、村里的长辈和关心她的邻居归功于他们的帮助，让她长大后成为一个快乐而美好的人。她还感谢家人对她的爱：她已故的丈夫(Juan Luis)、女儿(Lisa)、女婿(Tyler)、儿子(Yit)、儿媳(Hong) 以及5 个出色的孙子（戈登、安娜、梅琳达、克里斯蒂娜和珀尔)，还有4 个美丽的曾孙（维拉、艾米丽、奥菲莉亚和埃文)，以及许多围绕和支持她的朋友和家人。
作为一名母亲、祖母和曾祖母，作为一名老师，作为社区的领导者，作为她以前的学校和美国及家乡其他事业的捐助者，以及作为朋友，她也慷慨地奉献了自己的爱。很多（她可以在电话里聊几个小时)。
最后，她说要做一些让自己开心的事情。
嫲嫲的最爱
家人和朋友、麻将（现场和在线）、观看中文频道的动物星球、中国戏曲、制作传统食品庆祝节日：农历新年的糕点和素食、生日的汤圆和端午节的粽，种菜及尝试种龙眼，无论天气冷热都喝热水，吃巧克力、杏仁饼、樱桃、葡萄（去皮）、咸糖、披萨、花生酱饼干及柑。嫲嫲对这个世界也很了解（尤其是在这样一个动荡的时代长大）——每天晚上看世界新闻，读中国报纸。
追悼仪式
2023 年 12 月 2 日星期六
瞻仰遗容和告别
时间: 中午 - 下午 1 点
地点: Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home and Cremation Center,
4061 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
安葬仪式
时间：下午 1:30-2:30
地点: Lauderdale Memorial Park,
2001 SW 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
素餐
时间: 3:00 PM
地点: Silver Pond Restaurant,
4285 FL-7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319
我们将遵守以下中国丧葬习俗：
瞻仰遗容前，直系亲属会上香烧纸。这一传统确保亲人在来世能够得到他们需要的东西 (包括金块，以及给奶奶的一套麻将）。注意：在整个瞻仰遗容期间，香可能会一直燃烧。
家庭中的女性会在头发上佩戴哀花：白色（女儿和儿媳）和绿色（孙子)。
奶奶的儿子、女婿都会戴上黑色的袖章。
欢迎来宾穿深色衣服，甚至红色或粉色衣服，以庆祝祖母晚年（80 岁后）的去世。
来宾将收到一块糖果和一个装有 25 美分硬币的白色小包。请在回家之前吃掉糖果并花费/捐赠四分之一以确保您的好运。
瞻仰遗容结束后，在密封棺材之前，家人将转身离开。这是因为人们相信看到棺材被关闭的家人的灵魂将被困在棺材里。
Everything Grandma Meant To Us
One of my earliest memories of gramma was the love and kindness that she exuded. I didn’t speak the same language as her but we didn’t have to. Her body language always made me feel welcomed, loved, and appreciated whenever I came to visit. Vera and Ophie were always excited to see her (especially since gramma gave them their favorite crackers.) I never got the opportunity to grow up with extended family members, so I’m grateful to see the girls play and bond with gramma.
When I think of gramma, I always remember her telling me that taking care of children was hard work, and that she appreciated me for it. I will always admire how strong she was in mind, body, and soul. She was always happy, always kept active with yard work, and always knew how to touch our hearts. I felt like I wasn’t worthy of her kindness, but I am forever grateful to have known her and that she was a part of mine and my family’s life.
Forever part of us
— Tranie
Grandma was my biggest joy.
Other than my parents, other grandparents, aunts and uncles, some family friends, and some distant relatives, grandma knew me the longest. She knew what my favorite childhood snacks were (haw flakes, white rabbit candy, iced gem biscuits), how to comfort me when I didn’t feel well, how much I enjoy cleaning (she always complimented me when I mopped the floor), and most importantly, how much I loved her.
One of my earliest memories is when grandma used to ask my sisters and cousins to sit down with a notepad or several pieces of paper and told us that we had 20/30 minutes to write as many words down during this time. Whoever wrote the most unduplicated words was declared the winner. I thought it was the best game, even though, if I recall correctly, there was no prize. In hindsight, I’m pretty sure this was her way of getting us to sit down and give her a break. :)
She helped our family out so much. While my parents were busy running the restaurant from 8 AM-11 PM or 12 AM, grandma made sure my sisters and I did our homework, and were well-fed, bathed, and entertained. She made sure we got up in the mornings to catch the school bus and looked out for us when she knew it was time for us to be dropped off.
I get my dry humor, passion for cleaning, and love for chocolate from her.
Grandma - thank you for always being on my side (even if it wasn’t always the best side). It was a privilege to be your grandchild and we shall meet again. I will miss you a lot until then.
— Ana
Ah Po did everything she could to care for us and love us as much as she could. Even with motion sickness and not being able to ride in a car locally for more than a few miles, she got in a car and rode 320+ miles just to see me graduate from college. She even recently got on a plane after 23 years just to see where I live.
She always loved making my favorite Chinese pastries growing up, taught me how to speak fluent Chinese and showed me how to be the smart, witty, strongwilled, jokester and loving person I am today.
Ah Po was my grandma, my BB and my best friend.
— Pearl
Gma had such a loving soul that she instantly loves everyone that she comes in contact with and vice versa. She was also a great baker! I loved her Chinese goodies that she made for us during CNY! My favorites were the ham dumplings and nian gao.
Grandma always wanted the best for everyone and whenever we talked to her she would always wish the best for us. My gma was super sweet to all her grandkids and definitely to her great grandkids! We will all miss gma so much!
— Christina
Grandma was the person I loved most in my entire life. I can’t imagine life without her but I hope she knew how much I loved her till the last moment.
She will always stay in my heart as the person who raised me to become the strong, independent woman I am today. She was equally caring as she was stern. She put up a lot with me growing up and I thank God she never gave up on me. Even now, I know I’ll be in trouble if I ever try to go to bed with my hair wet.
One of my earliest memories was napping in the living room floor on a bamboo mat and she would come, wipe sweat away from my head, and pat me till I went back to sleep. She made the best food, crystal dumplings, traditional fried doughnuts for holidays, congee, vermicelli noodles… sooo many delicious meals growing up. I’m so glad I got to learn some of her recipes.
There are too many memories in my heart I have with her to share. I think my favorite memories are: when you said “I love you” she’d always say “me too!”
You could always tell when she was genuinely joyful when she’d open her eyes wide, clap her hands and go “ooooo” and then cackle.
She loved to hide her snacks and candy in a tissue box next to her like we didn’t know she was sneaking them.
Often she told me stories of her childhood way into the night and we’d talk about the most random things.. usually concluding conversations about how it kept her up at night that we weren’t married with children, lol.
Grandma will always be in my heart. I wish we could have spent many many more years together but I’m glad she is at peace now playing mahjong and eating pizza with her friends and family in heaven.
— Melinda
Grandma was such a great person in and out. From the time I met her she was always so welcoming and made me feel like I was a part of the family. I loved how Grandma would sneak me her candy snacks and I would tell her no I don't want any you eat it. But she would always say, "No it's too much!"
I also love how she would teach me Cantonese phrases like colors and animals. We would just sit in the living room and repeat them back and forth to each other!
My fondest memory of grandma was how we always blew each other kisses whenever we hung up after speaking on facetime. Even though we couldn't fully understand each other, we both could understand that we both enjoyed laughing and spending time with the family.
I love you Grandma!
— Khari
If you have a memory to share or comment, please send a message below.
