In life, our parents’ love formed the foundation upon which we built our family. In passing, their legacy continues to echo, binding us together even across the distance.
Our father departed this world on March 25, 1995, finding eternal rest at the serene Yuanlin Catholic Cemetery in Taiwan. For 27 years, he rested there, watching over our family from afar. Then, on June 4, 2022, our beloved mother joined him. Though her journey to reunite with him was one of sorrow, it was also one of completion. On September 17, 2022, she joined him in that same cemetery, a testament to their unbreakable bond.
After our father’s passing, our mother demonstrated extraordinary strength and boundless love. Every year, until 2019, she traveled to the United States to care for her three grandchildren, nurturing them with the same dedication and warmth she had always shown her family. Her presence was a gift, and her life lessons became treasures that will guide them forever.
Even amidst her travels, she found joy in the simple, beautiful things. She loved tending to vegetable gardens, coaxing life from the earth with her gentle hands. Rows of thriving plants stood as proof of her care and patience. She also had a passion for knitting, crafting intricate patterns with quiet focus. Each piece she made carried her love, warmth, and a piece of her spirit.
Sadly, in her later years, she faced a battle with stroke and pancreatic cancer. She passed away in Pennsylvania, surrounded by the family she had devoted her life to. Though she was far from her homeland, she was embraced by the love of those she held dearest.
The physical distance between us and their final resting place in Taiwan weighed heavily on our hearts, especially for their grandchildren, who could not travel to pay their respects. To honor their memory and bring a piece of them closer to home, we created a cenotaph in our backyard—a sacred space where their love and presence could feel near.
At the heart of this memorial lies a special resting place for Mom’s beloved betta fish, surrounded by carefully placed stones and the vibrant blooms of daffodils. Each stone was chosen with care, collected one by one from our backyard—a labor of love and remembrance. As I added each stone to the pile, an echo would resonate, as though the stones themselves were speaking, whispering stories of the past and the enduring love of our parents.
This cenotaph is more than a physical marker; it is a living tribute. The daffodils bloom each spring, their bright yellow petals a symbol of renewal and hope. The stones stand as witnesses to our memories, and the whispers in the echoes remind us that love, once shared, never truly fades. It lives on—in our hearts, in our children, and in the quiet, sacred places we create to honor those who came before us.
Though our parents rest thousands of miles away, their spirit is ever-present in the lives they touched. This cenotaph is a testament to their legacy, a place where love echoes eternally.