It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Ju Li (李 菊, Lǐ Jú) lovingly known as “popo”, “mama” and “ma”. Ju Li, age 86, passed away on Friday March 18, 2022, at Victoria General Hospital, after post-surgery complications, with her daughter, grandson, and granddaughter by her side.
She was born April 14, 1935, in Xiaolan, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China, the eldest daughter of the late Wu Man Ha (胡曼霞) and the youngest daughter of the late Le Boc Mun (李博文).
At the age of 16, she was enlisted into the Chinese Navy. Soon thereafter, she was selected for her natural athleticism to join the first batch of swimmers to represent the “new” China (The Republic of China). She represented China in international youth swimming competitions against Europe for five years, regularly placing in the top 3, in the breaststroke.
At a young age, she was known by her friends and family for her loving nature, her playfulness, and genuine smile.
After retiring as a swimmer, Ju Li became a Swim Coach in Guangzhou for approximately thirty years before immigrating to Canada in 1989 where she helped raise her grandchildren while building and living a peaceful new life.
With her welcoming and friendly personality, it was no surprise that she easily made new friends in her new home in Victoria.
Ju Li had many interests and hobbies: she was a skilled and self-taught artist. In fact, she taught herself how to design and sew clothing at a young age, making all of her own clothes! She was known for sewing her own clothing, her children and grandchildren’s clothing without asking for anything in return. They were often credited by others as beautiful.
She also designed and made handbags, different pieces of art, did embroidery, and did her own repairs around the home – despite the difficulty. In her early years in Victoria, she also renovated her own houses.
Ju Li was a self-taught painter and taught herself the art of traditional Chinese painting. She combined Chinese and Western techniques and her artwork was loved and praised by others. She continued to paint up until her later years, inspiring her grandchildren with her many talents and creativity.
She enjoyed arts and crafts up until her last day. In her last few years, even with hand tremors, she lovingly created miniature dioramas and dollhouses with the desire to donate them. These were praised by friends and family for all her exquisite detail. In her free time, she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, gardening, listening to music, walking around malls, going to beaches, and treating everybody she met to food.
Ju Li was born generous and beautiful. She had the most helpful personality and she always had a smile on her face. Even on her last day on earth, in the hospital, the nurses praised how beautiful she was, and how amazing her smile was.
She was known for her joyful heart, and lighthearted nature. She loved Shirley Temple, puppies, and traveling around the world. She had friends around the globe and kept in touch with many of them until her passing. She was resilient, strong, determined and fiercely independent. She had an extremely sharp mind up until her passing, kept up-to-date with all current events, and had the best penmanship, up until her last day, where she communicated with us by writing Chinese characters in the hospital.
She took care of all her mother, siblings, husbands, children, grandchildren, and family members. You couldn’t have a single conversation with grandma without her saying “let me treat you to a meal.” She was the supportive pillar and rock in our family. She would always listen intently to your problems and give you a logical yet loving solution.
Ju Li is survived by: son, Charles Cai (蔡華); daughter Margaret Kan Ko (蔡瑾); grandson Edward Ko (高俊維); granddaughters Alice Ko (高靜怡); Helen Ko (高莹怡); Loren Cai (蔡樂琳); Arleen Cai (蔡珽珽); brothers Li Long (李亮), Wong Ga Cai (黃家瑝), and Wong Ga Wong (黃家齊), son-in-law, Donald Ko (高玉源); step-daughters Mandy Luo (羅志华) and Anna Luo (羅志潔), and step-son-in-law Gordon O’Young (歐陽曰威).
She leaves many other family members and friends across Canada, Seattle, San Francisco, California, Hawaii, China, Hong Kong, and Indonesia who will sadly miss her.
Ju Li was preceded in death by her first husband of thirteen years, Cai Ga Cheung (蔡家祥), second husband of forty plus years, John Luo (羅紹基); daughter-in-law, Kitty Cai (林麗兒), and five brothers and sisters.
Ju Li has blessed all of us by leaving deep and beautiful memories that we will never forget. She will live on forever in our lives and hearts. We will all miss her every single day.
A Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens Funeral Home, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC with her grandchildren and daughter officiating.
李 菊
李菊，生于1935年4月14曰。中國廣東中山小欖。病逝于2022年3月18日19:35分。病逝于2022年3月18日19:35茌加拿大維多利亞綜合醫。
媽媽，李菊。生于中國廣東省中山小欖。十六歲參軍。是新中國第一批游泳队員。曾出防歐洲參加青年錦標賽。退役后任职游泳教練。
媽媽八十年代末與家人移居加拿大維多利亞，一邊工作一邊幫忙帶孙子， 孙女。他们很喜欢和婆婆在一起。過著寧靜的生活。同時，也結識了很多朋友。常常聚會，共享花園夜市的美好時光。
媽媽興趣廣泛，從小就會做衣服給自己，我和我孩子的衣服做的都做得與眾不同。很美。還自己設計做手袋，刺繡，修補，每樣都難不倒她。早些年還和家人自己裝修房子。
媽媽還對中國繪畫響往，她自己創造了很多中西結合的繪畫，無師自通，我們常常贊美她。作品還受到愛好者的喜愛。近年因為年紀逐大，用她一雙发抖的手 ，剪出一座一小座一小座的夢幻小屋，美倫美煥。精緻的像真的一樣。同樣得到親朋好友的一致好評。
媽媽天生大方美麗，面上永遠帶上微笑，豪爽的性格，助人為樂，為我們留下深刻而美好的回憶。媽媽，我們知道白天您會出來晒太陽，晚上您會出現看星星，同時您也會看著愛您的家人和朋友。妈妈愿您一路走好。在天堂裡像天使一樣快樂的飛翔。
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McCall Gardens
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