Linda Lisa Ng's Obituary
Linda Lisa Fong Ng was born on February 2, 1950 to Eddie and Jeannie Fong in Oakland. Two siblings, Elaine and Glenn, were born the next two years. They lived together on Harrison Street near Oakland Chinatown until moving in 1965 to the house on Nevil Street, their only other residence as a family. Linda attended and graduated from Lincoln Elementary School and then Oakland High School in 1968, and graduated from University of California at Berkeley in 1972 with a BS degree in Bacteriology. She worked for five years as a laboratory technician before the birth of her first child, and then spent most of her career as a teacher at Chinese Christian Schools.
While still in college, Linda met Ray on September 1, 1970 at a Chinese Bible Church camp held at Mount Hope. They began to work together on the church newsletter and then the weekly Sunday bulletin. Over time, a growing friendship led to dating, and less than a year after their first meeting, Ray proposed. They were married on August 6, 1972, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary just four months ago.
Linda and Ray lived in San Leandro their whole married life, in an apartment for a few months until moving to a house on Oakes Boulevard, where they lived while all four children were born - Trina in 1977, Lori in 1979, Christie in 1981, and Gregory in 1983. In 1985 the family moved to the present house on Astor Court. Linda was a stay-at-home mother to the four children until they were all in or almost in school, at which time she began teaching at Chinese Christian Schools. She retired in 2005 after eighteen years of dedicated service.
In 1989 Linda was diagnosed with lupus, a relatively unknown disease at the time. For over thirty-three years, through many ups and downs, Linda battled the disease with strength, determination, and a peace that could only come from God. Her faith was strong and kept her and everyone around her going. She continued to be devoted to the family, with some of her greatest joys being the children’s high school and college graduations, their weddings, and the births of her eleven grandchildren.
Linda’s life was deeply blessed by three loves: service to her Lord Jesus Christ, devotion to her family, and the joy of travel.
Service to God was a lifelong endeavor. Linda helped in and out of church with whatever was needed, from singing in the choir and writing a newsletter, to teaching young students as a sponsor of the high school youth group with Ray and teaching a Good News Club at local elementary schools. More recently, she used her time and talents to love on many friends by crocheting gifts for them.
Family was a constant focus and love, not only for her own children as they were growing up, but also for her grandchildren and her aging parents. When her father passed away in 2019, Linda brought her mother to live with her and Ray. Grandchildren are of course special. In addition to babysitting countless times, Linda crocheted blankets and hats, and sewed beautiful quilts for all eleven grandchildren, and taught many of them how to bake brownies and cookies. It didn’t matter how much she was hurting physically, she loved visiting them and having them in her home. Even at her sickest, her concern was always for her family.
Travel was always something Linda enjoyed. The honeymoon with Ray was a 4000-mile drive around the United States and Canada. Visits to National Parks, especially Yosemite, were a family affair even with four young children. When the kids were young, there were trips to Disneyland and other sites. Once their children were grown and out of the house, she and Ray took more trips around the United States. It wasn’t until the last ten years, after Ray retired and her health stabilized, that she was able to travel abroad with trips to Costa Rica, Italy, Japan, Ireland, England, Australia, New Zealand, and Greece. Wherever they went, Linda always came home with a new ornament to hang on the Christmas tree.
On Friday, November 18, Linda was having trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital. She was admitted to the ICU, and despite the valiant efforts of the medical staff, this last downturn was too much for her weakened body. She entered Heaven at 10:10 AM, Sunday, November 27, 2022 with Ray and all of her children at her side.
Linda is preceded in death by her father Eddie Fong and survived by her husband Ray Ng; daughter Trina Park with husband Teddy and children Isabella and Zachary; daughter Lori Montgomery with husband Ben and children Joshua, Elliana, James, Asher, and Elijah; daughter Christie Lau with husband David and children Emma and Mason; and son Gregory Ng with wife Lisa Huynh and daughters Alessandra and Cassidy; her mother Jeannie Fong; sister Elaine Fong with husband Wilmer; brother Glenn Fong with wife Lillian; and several nieces and nephews.
Linda lived a life of faithful service to God and those around her. She is dearly missed by her family, friends, and those who knew her.
Until we meet again… forever.
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