This memorial website was created in the memory of our beloved Jayne Wong Frigon, 50, born on February 18, 1963 and passed away on September 12, 2013. The grace and strength Jayne possessed throughout her life and battle with cancer was an inspiration to all who knew and loved her. Jayne was always a light, selfless and kind soul with an infectious laugh.
Jayne was born in Kowloon, Hong Kong to Wong Mun Lai and Wong Chui Hang (Kwong). In 1971, a few years following the untimely death of their father, Jayne's family relocated across the world to Sacramento, CA where Jayne spent the remainder of her childhood years. She graduated from Sacramento High School in 1981. After completing high school, Jayne attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she received a degree in Political Economy of Industrial Societies (PEIS) in 1985. She began working for Lehman Brothers, and later joined Charles Schwab, where she remained as Director of Fixed Income for more than 15 years.
Jayne married Doug on December 7, 1996 and often referred to him as "the love of my life." They were happily married for 17 years.
Jayne was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Lafayette, California and was very involved with all aspects of her children's education. A voracious reader and woman with a wide variety of interests, Jayne preferred spending time with her friends and loved ones most of all. A self-described foodie with an discerning palate, Jayne loved enjoying wonderful wine and food over stimulating conversation, a trait she has shared with both her beloved children, Ethan and Nicole. She particularly loved exploring the different California wine regions, especially Paso Robles and Amador counties, including the little town of Murphys where she and her family frequently vacationed.
The consummate music lover, Jayne's taste in music was amazingly diverse. She loved jazz, opera, classical, and many contemporary female artists. One of her favorite conversations was one shared with a person of high musical intellect, no matter what the genre.
Jayne delighted in travelling abroad as well, and considered the Caribbean and Italy as two of her most favorite places in the world. She always brought back something special from her journeys to share with those she loved. A kind and gentle soul, Jayne had a loving and generous heart, and was always giving to others.
Jayne was preceded in death by her father, Wong Mun Lai.
Jayne leaves her loving memories to be cherished by her husband Doug Frigon and their two beautiful children, son Ethan (13) and daughter Nicole (10) of Lafayette, CA; her loving mother, Chui Hwang Wong of Benicia, CA; her brothers, George (Isabella) Wong of Elk Grove, CA and David (Connie) Wong of Walnut Creek, CA; her beloved sister, Lisa (Chris) Wong-Rennels of Benicia, CA; her many loving nephews, nieces, great-nephews great-nieces, and numerous other relatives and friends.
She will be terribly missed and never forgotten. Her loving spirit continues to surround us.
Family and friends will gather to honor Jayne's life this Friday September 20th at Christ the King Church, 199 Brandon Road in Pleasant Hill. The viewing will be held from 9:30 -10:30AM, immediately followed by the Funeral Service at 10:30AM. The burial will commence after the service concludes at Queen of Heaven Cemetery 1965 Reliez Valley Road in Lafayette. A reception will be held at the Van Galder home from approximately 12:30-3:00PM at 3477 Monroe Avenue in Lafayette (Betw Moraga Blvd and 1st St). Please use street parking.
In lieu of flowers the Frigon and Wong families have set up a college scholarship fund accepting donations for Ethan and Nicole:
Ethan & Nicole Frigon Scholarship Fund
c/o Jim Gordon
3258 Judith Lane
Lafayette, CA 94549
Or, to honor Jayne, the families request memorial donations be made to The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation
http://www.tnbcfoundation.org
“Closed eyes, heart not beating, but a living love.”
― Avis Corea
Tributes
Leave a tributeLife is eternal, and love is immortal,
and death is only a horizon;
and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.
- Rossiter Worthington Raymond
So sorry to hear about Jayne. You and your family are in my thoughts often and even more so now! Thoughts and prayers to you and your family!
Barb Mckinley Alexander
So sorry to hear about your loss. I have not seen you in 25 years but have such fond memories of you back in the old days. Would love to catch up - hang in there old buddy! You have no idea how many people's lives you have influenced in a positive way - mine included.
Leave a Tribute
Life is eternal, and love is immortal,
and death is only a horizon;
and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.
- Rossiter Worthington Raymond
Just Thinking of You
Jayne, you are still very much in my heart; you will always be. Today, a year after your passing, I am remembering your laughter, your genorosity, your playfulness. Always, always thinking of others. Miss you!
"The Magic of a Mother's Touch"-A Poem
There's magic in a mother's touch,
And sunshine in her smile.
There's love in everything she does
To make our lives worhtwhile.
We can find both hope and courage
Just by looking in her eyes.
Her laughter is a source of joy,
Her words are warm and wise.
There is kindness and compassion
To be found in her embrace.
And we see the light of Heaven
Shining from a mother's face.
Jayne is looking down on all of us now.
When we read this poem we think of Jayne.
Thomas, Tamara, Simone and Stefan.
Truth, Tenacity, and Tenderness
In recounting family stories, there is an inherent risk of becoming only mildly interesting, or possibly verbose and/or maudlin. Nevertheless, these little family histories and vignettes provide a link to the past and a reference for the future. So at the risk of being all of the aforementioned let me describe what it felt like being Jayne's in-law.
Now first of all, there is a dubious nature to the term “in-law” when it's all said and done. While it provides a legal reference, is an in-law really part of the family? Or maybe not quite. With Jayne (and Doug for that matter) it's a resounding, yes! We were - we are – embraced as family; and this was something about which Jayne was very clear.
I remember some years ago, Lisa, Jayne and I were in my kitchen involved in food prep for one of our many (although clearly not enough) gatherings of friends and family. I'd like to think it was the annual Labor Day Cook Off, since that was one of Jayne’s favorites - “the end of the summer celebration” although as I remember, it was fairly quiet at the time and nothing is relaxed or quiet during the cook off!
As I recall, one of my friends popped into the kitchen; someone I realized never had met Jayne or Lisa. After proffering introductions, I said, “You know, um… sister in law doesn’t really cut it.” A little explanation here. Lisa is married to my brother Christopher, so she’s my sister-in-law but technically (at least legally) I suppose Jayne wouldn’t be. Jayne just dimpled up as she was wont to do, gathered the three of us together in a group hug and said, “We’re just sisters.” And we toasted to the truth of that moment. Truthfulness - that was simply Jayne’s nature.
So we were family… which also by it’s very nature brings it’s own complexities and personalities – some quite strong.
And as it happens, Uncle Hossain, my husband, upon occasion tends to be rather opinionated about things… and with a Middle Eastern background at times can take the role of elder rather seriously. And despite the somewhat stern countenance “King Hossain” might have, Auntie Jayne was never daunted one bit, despite a bit of Persian bluster. When Uncle Hossain would aver something with which she disagreed, Auntie Jayne would generally begin something like this (sweetly, of course)“Now, Hossain, I don’t think so…” and, a woman of strong convictions herself, would proceed to explain why whatever it was just wasn’t so. The two of them could go head to head occasionally, and sometimes ended up walking off in a huff (only a mild one, mind you, and never very long or serious) but always ended up laughing with each other later. Going up against Uncle took tenacity – that too, was Jayne’s nature.
Indeed, it was Auntie Jayne’s habit to be tenderly tenacious while delivering truth to those she loved – something evidenced never more clearly less than three weeks ago at our “end of summer celebration.”
This year, we scaled back what had become a huge event, to just immediate family. Auntie Jayne, obviously in the last stages of her illness, knew that one of my young adult children was experiencing one of those challenging times that life brings to all of us. She took me aside and told me that there was something she really wanted to say to this hurting child of mine and asked, tenderly, if I thought it was okay. I replied, “Auntie Jayne, I believe that you should speak your truth.” "I just needed to be sure," she smiled.
Sometime later in the evening, I saw my dear sister, gently holding her niece, and speaking softly to her. What she said is unimportant to this story – but when and why she shared her wisdom is. Auntie Jayne had something she needed to share with someone she loved. You see, even at a time when others in her situation might well only be focusing on themselves, Jayne was concerned about someone else, her message, her hope for her niece tenderly and lovingly delivered. Tenderness... that was, too was part of Jayne's nature.
These are only some of the memories we will cherish. And we will remember them… Today, in most of our waking moments we remember, we grieve. In the future, perhaps a tender breeze will bring a scent we recognize from long ago that reminds us of our beloved auntie, sister, wife, mother, friend. A special song, a sip of wine, a dimpled smile will bring her once again sharply into focus. And we will always remember.