Maria
Mei Bing
Wai
韋伍美冰
Recording of the live stream of the services on 9/7/2025 including eulogies
Photo slideshow with some great old family pictures and more rencent
Maria was born in Hong Kong in 1949 to her loving parents Joseph and Helen Ng. She was the second of five siblings; second only to her beloved older brother Paul; big sister to Teresa, Winnifred, and Raymond.
Her siblings will be her best friends for her entire life.
In grade school, she met her big brother Paul’s best friend, Peter Wai. Little did she know that this little boy would one day be her beloved husband.
And best friends Paul and Peter, along with their other bestie Andy Mak who married Maria’s sister Winnifred, would become brothers. As dear friends and now family, Maria spent her life with her most favorite people.
After graduating high school from St Mary’s in Hong Kong, Maria became a flight attendant for British Airways. She lived the jet setting life flying to Tokyo, London, and Sydney among other places for ten years.
Whenever she flew to visit her brothers Raymond and Paul who were attending Memphis State University (now U of Memphis), their classmate Peter would mysteriously always appear.
Peter’s grit, patience, and luck paid off, Maria married him on August 14, 1975. Maria found her true love. This was the beginning of a 45 year marriage. Their love is a testament of what love can be; true soul mates who laughed, argued, danced, worked, built, and spread kindness.
They settled in Memphis- the start of the couple laying deep and incredibly well respected roots.
In 1979, they welcomed their only son Felix. Maria now had her two boys- husband and son.
She was a miracle of a mother- a bottomless well of patience, support, and unconditional love. Maria and Peter soon opened their own clinic— young parents and small business owners.
Yet for Mom, nothing was more important than her two boys. She was the heart of her little family. She always saw clearly through the noise and complexities to the center— which was and always is love.
If you were lucky enough to call Maria family by blood or otherwise, you were blessed by that same unconditional love she showed her two boys.
With her quiet strength sometimes mistaken as simply gentleness, nothing you could do- even to her- would rock her faith in you. She never gave up on you. Never stopped loving you.
The only thing that rivaled her love of family was her love of animals and sweets.
After many happy years, Maria and Peter retired in 2012. For eight years, they traveled the world from Tanzania to Machu Pichu and everywhere in between, always together. They often traveled with friends and family— especially her big brother Paul and his wife Jackie.
Tragically she lost her soul mate Peter unexpectedly in 2020 while also being diagnosed with dementia, but she had more life to live.
She moved with her son to San Francisco- where she finally attended his long awaited wedding to his own true love, Hillary.
She excitedly doted over a pregnant Hillary and was there when her first grandson Arlo was born.
Maria and Arlo quickly bonded. Arlo’s first word was “Ma-Ma” and he did not mean his mommy. He was saying the Chinese name for Grandma. They played everyday. When mom could no longer walk due to her advancing dementia, Arlo played every day in her room and snuggled on her bed. He greeted her every morning and said night-night every night.
After watching Arlo grow to be almost 2 years old, it was time for Maria to pass on Thursday August 28. She passed peacefully at home and surrounded by love. She is survived by her sisters Winnifred and Teresa, her brother Raymond, her son Felix, her daughter in law Hillary, her grandson Arlo, and her soon to be second grandson (due date Sept. 10th).
Goodbye Maria. Goodbye Grandma, Momma, Sister, Kindest woman in the world. Say hi to Dad, he has been waiting for you.
Celebration of the life of Maria Wai
Visitation & Funeral Mass
Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church **100 Diamond St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Sunday, September 7th
Visitation. 2:00pm PST
Rosary. 3:00pm PST
Funeral Mass. 3:30pm PST (will be live streamed)
Dessert for dinner
Abaca **2700 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94133; located in the Alton Kimpton Hotel, valet parking available
Sunday, September 7th
5:30PM.
In honor of Maria’s love of sweets, we will be having a dinner with lots and lots of desserts, following the funeral mass. Please join us in this celebration of Maria over sweets and food. Yes, there will be actual savory dishes for a real dinner too. But sharpen that sweet tooth because you know Maria would have held out for just desserts! Menu will be posted asap.
All are welcome.
PLEASE RSVP so we can work with the restaurant on this custom menu
For Flowers, there are two recommended stores:
Please send flowers to Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church at 100 Diamond St, San Francisco, CA 94114. And the point of contact is Deacon Michael and his phone number is (415) 340-9106
If you would like to donate in Maria’s name:
We are donating to the animal rescue at the Randall Museum- in honor of Mom’ s love of animals.
https://randallmuseum.org/honoring-the-memory-of-maria-wai/
For the livestream of the Funeral Mass:
The stream will begin at 3:30PM PST
Please use this link. This is the livestream page for the church. If you click it now, you won’t see any livestream. But it will appear on this page when we go live at 3:30pm PST on Sept 7th.