Virginia Tan

Annette Cheng

Annette Cheng Family portrait in the Philippines. (Virginia is the little girl sitting in great grandma's lap)

Annette Cheng

Annette Cheng Aunt Virginia with her sister Porfiria

Annette Cheng Tansiongkun reunion (with a sleepy Sylvester in the back)

Annette Cheng Rooftop picnic in the summer!

Annette Cheng Aunt Virginia, Jimmy, Jonathan, and Annette at the movies

Annette Cheng

Wei Tan I have known Virginia since 1999. We were both volunteers at the Chan Meditation Center in Elmhurst. For many years, she was the coordinator of the Chan Magazine and I have worked under her guidance. She was always gracious, caring, compassionate, and sensitive to others' feeling. Without a doubt, she was one of the best volunteer coordinators at the Chan Center. After leaving the US in the late 2000s, I had lost touch with her until this January, when I went to the US for a conference. She was one of the few old friends I managed to see. We had such a good time catching up with Guo Yuan Fashi, Grace, and others at Charles' home. In recent weeks, she has been on my mind and I have been thinking of calling her. Unfortunately, I did not get to do it due to the large difference in time zones. But she has been in my daily prayer and practice since last week. I will miss her but I know that she will be shining a light on us from the Western Pure Land, in the company of Amitabha Buddha and the bodhisattvas. Dear big sister, you will forever be my inspiration. May you continue to inspire us from the Pure Land.

Alice Rouse Memories of our Beloved Seko. She was a strong, independent, intelligent and vibrant woman. I will miss her wisdom and smile.

James Tan Aunt Virginia (Seko) loved unconditionally and truly was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. She would rather release flies or spiders outside than kill them. I have so many fond memories of visiting her in Manhattan as a child in the tiny apartment she loved. She had a beautiful, gentle spirit and we all will miss her very much. We all love you and will always remember you, Seko.

Annette Cheng

Annette Cheng

Annette Cheng

Annette Cheng

Joseph Tan

Joseph Tan

Joseph Tan One thing I learned from Aunt Virginia was to always speak what's on your mind and be honest with people. People will say she was stubborn, but I feel that if you have an opinion about something you have to hold your ground and stand firm in what you believe in! I never met anybody who really cared for others as much as she did. Her heart was like gold.

Lawrence Waldron Virginia’s laughter echoes through our memories of her. Buddhism is a contemplative tradition and Buddhadharma teaches us to cultivate equanimity in times of crisis and excitement alike. But it never prevents us from laughing. Virginia sometimes turned heads at temple with her laughter, which made Nes and I love her even more. She joyfully embraced hard work, loving kindness, disciplined compassion, irony, absurdity, emptiness. “Aunty V,” as we took to calling her early on, is pictured here choreographing our wedding at Chan Center in 2003. Throughout our time together at temple, there were many moments of levity. In fact, they always seemed to happen whenever Aunty V was around. Shifu’s face (and Wei Tan’s in the corner) testifies to that. Thanks Aunty V for your guidance, encouragement, the occasional gentle push, and the laughter.

Jessie Wong I am forever indebted to Virginia. She was my rock and guardian angel when I first arrived in New York City. She was my first neighbor, my first friend, then became my family in a foreign land. She shall forever be considered family to us. She is a beacon of pure kindness and righteousness. Always ready to speak out in face of injustice and always just wanting to lend others a helping hand but never wanting anything in return. 敬爱的Virginia，今生有幸认识您是我的一大福气。非常感谢您对我那么多年的照顾和感怀。妈妈和我会非常的想念您！