Ging Yen Wai

钟晶莹（原名钟景炎），祖籍广东肇庆，1932年3月8日（即中华农历壬申年二月初二）出生于中华民国上海，2024年11月3日仙逝于美国加利福尼亚州森林湖市，享年92岁。她在亲人陪伴下安详离世，留下一生充满爱与传奇的足迹。

钟晶莹以率真、坦荡的性格和敏锐的才智，书写了坚忍与奉献的一生。她天性善良，举止优雅，厨艺出色，以质朴的生活智慧和无私的爱为家庭带来了无尽的温暖。她一生跨越两个中国朝代，亲历日本侵华战争、革命运动等重大历史变迁，虽历经种种磨难，却始终保持一颗未泯的童心，对生活充满憧憬与追求。

1950年，高二在读的钟晶莹因新中国成立而中断学业，积极响应政府号召，加入广州医疗卫生机构担任行政职务。她刚正不阿的性格让她在各种政治斗争中屡遭迫害，但她始终坚韧不屈。

1962年，她与同乡兼初中同学、时任中国新闻社广州分社记者的转业军人卫鼎华结为伉俪，从此避开政治斗争，生活逐步安稳。在文革时期，夫妻二人得以远离文争武斗的风口浪尖，生活于广州市和广东四会地区，并在此期间育有四子一女。得益于丈夫卫鼎华旅美母亲的资助，一家人在动荡年代中依然能保持生活充实。

1979年，在中美建交的契机下，全家七口人得以移民美国纽约。初到异国他乡，钟晶莹虽面临语言不通的困境，却以勤劳和智慧带领家庭度过难关。她在服装企业担任质量监管工作，每日加班加点，以辛勤的劳动支撑家庭支出。她敏锐的理财天赋让一家人在移民短短三年后迅速购置第一套房产，并通过其后多次置换升级，为家人创造了富足而稳定的生活环境。

1995年退休后，钟晶莹与丈夫卫鼎华云游四海，常年旅居于广州和纽约之间，享受了近30年的自由惬意生活。他们共同走过了六十余年的风风雨雨，庆祝了珍贵的钻石婚姻，成为家人和朋友心中的美好榜样。2023年，她在91岁生日之际，满怀欣慰地见证孙辈取得硕士学位等优异成就。

钟晶莹的生命和智慧，传承于她的子孙后代之中。她的子女和孙辈品德高尚、事业有成，对长辈怀有深厚的孝心，完美辉映了钟家与卫家的优良基因和传统。她的一生虽已画上句号，但她的爱、智慧和影响，将永远铭刻在家人的记忆之中。钟晶莹在亲情环绕中安然离世，走得无牵无挂，留给世界一段温暖而丰盈的生命传奇。

她的丈夫和子孙们都将永远怀念她，带着深深的爱铭记她的一生。

Obituary

Ging Yen Wai (née Zhong Jingyan), born on March 8, 1932 (the second day of the second month of the Chinese Ren-Shen lunar Year) in Shanghai during the Republic of China era, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2024, in Forest Lake, California, at the age of 92. She left this world surrounded by her loved ones, leaving behind a life filled with love and extraordinary memories.

Ging Yen will be remembered for her honest and forthright nature, sharp intellect, and resilient spirit. She was kind and elegant, a gifted cook, and a beacon of warmth for her family. Her life spanned two Chinese eras, and she bore witness to Japan’s invasion of China, revolutionary movements, and historic upheavals. Despite facing profound challenges, she held on to a heart full of wonder and an unwavering hope for life.

In 1950, Ging Yen’s education was interrupted during her sophomore year of high school by the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Answering the call to serve, she began working in Guangzhou’s healthcare administration. Her uncompromising integrity, however, brought her hardship during political struggles, yet she remained steadfast.

In 1962, she married Ding Wah Wai, a journalist and veteran from her hometown where they were classmates in junior high school. This union brought political shelter and stability to her life. During the Cultural Revolution, the couple avoided the brunt of political persecution, living quietly in Guangzhou and Sihui, Guangdong, where they raised four sons and a daughter. Thanks to financial support from her mother-in-law, an overseas Chinese in America, the family managed to maintain a comfortable life even during turbulent times.

In 1979, seizing the opportunity of normalized U.S.-China relations, the family of seven emigrated to New York. Though Ging Yen initially faced language barriers, she overcame them with hard work and determination. She took a job as a quality supervisor in an apparel factory, often working long hours to support her family. With her financial acumen and foresight, she quickly purchased their first home after merely 3 years of immigration, and later upgraded to better homes to provide her family with a stable and prosperous future.

After retiring in 1995, Ging Yen and Ding Wah embraced a life of travel, frequently dividing their time between Guangzhou and New York. Together, they enjoyed nearly 30 years of carefree adventures, celebrating over six decades of marriage—a testament to their devotion and enduring partnership. On her 91st birthday in 2023, she took immense pride in her grandchildren’s academic achievements, including their master’s degrees, which brought her great joy and fulfillment.

Ging Yen’s legacy shines through her children and grandchildren, who embody the values she cherished: integrity, kindness, and success in their endeavors. Her life may have come to an end, but her love, wisdom, and influence will forever remain in the hearts of those she touched. Surrounded by her family’s deep affection, she departed peacefully, leaving behind a rich and meaningful life story—one of resilience, sacrifice, and boundless love.

She will be deeply loved and fondly remembered by her husband, children, and grandchildren forever.