MARIA ASSUNTA CHEAM

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MARIA ASSUNTA CHEAM Maria Assunta Cheam (nee Blino) passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 21, 2016. Maria Assunta was born May 13, 1935 in Villar Perosa, Torino, Italy and was affectionately known as "Lella" (short form for sister in Italian) by her younger sister Manuella. Maria Assunta is the daughter of Giuseppe Blino and Caterina Regina Robasto. Though she had a strict upbringing, she was very much loved and her inquisitive nature and love of history, art and architecture was embraced and encouraged by Giuseppe and Regina. That thirst for knowledge was buttressed with the discipline that can only come from her being raised in a convent as a young girl. She learned a lot within a veil of extremely strict rules and unforgiving work ethic. If her india ink assignment had one stray line she had to redo it over and over until it was perfect, which many times took until 3 o'clock in the morning as a seven year old girl. Her vivid memories included and etched in her mind were the immediate recognition of the sound of every fighter plane from the Second World War. Whether it was the sound of a machine gun equipped war plane or bomber it meant she had to know where to sprint to, to stay alive. She still recalled with humour the unimaginable speed of a 75 year old nonna (grandmother) holding up her dress as she sprinted for the concrete underground bunker. Her black gatto (cat) she lovingly named "miccio" was the love of her life and she conveyed that love to her last "miccio" Max who predeceased her last year. Maria loved animals and especially cats. Maria was well travelled. Her first voyage took her to London, England where she studied accounting and stayed to learn English and meet new people. This is where she met and fell immediately in love with her husband Eng See Cheam. They were the definition of opposites attract with her caring nature balanced by his analytical manner. They were married in London, England and soon after she moved to Italy to prepare for the birth of their daughter Tat-Siang Licia Cheam. Shortly after Tat-Siang's birth, Maria and Eng See moved to New Jersey, USA so Eng See could finish his interning in medicine. Upon the completion of Eng See's studies, they moved to her husband's home town, Kuala Lipis Malaysia. There she faced her biggest fear (snakes) as the love for her children's well-being and husband overrode any fear she had. In Malaysia she gave birth to her son Tat-Liang Fabio Cheam who tried to run away from home in his tricycle but Maria Assunta was faster than that and managed to retrieve him for their next voyage. Next was the biggest trip she faced. Her next journey would result in her moving to The Pas, Manitoba, Canada where her husband Eng See had a job as the hospital's anaesthesiologist. It was a very different culture and climate for her but she was a trooper and embraced it with the fervour and love for life she was known for. There were many great people in The Pas that she cherished. Maria even created and taught a grade 6 poetry class in Kelsey School to impart some poetic culture to the school curriculum. Her two children left The Pas after Grade 12 to attend university in Winnipeg, Manitoba. When Maria was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer she moved to Winnipeg. Her strength was tested, but she was a cancer survivor. In Winnipeg, she was her happiest. She was once again living in the same city as her children Tat-Siang and Tat-Liang, her grandchildren (Henry, Simon and Leo Cortens), and her son-in-law John Cortens. She felt the impact of a deep sorrow when her beloved daughter Tat-Siang succumbed to cancer suddenly in 2010. She always found a bright light however and enjoyed many discussions on history, politics and human nature with John after her daughter passed away. She never believed in dwelling on the past or present. What had to be said was said now and wasn't saved for later. Although she could dream a big dream she was very practical about life and knew that life moved on. That resulted in her introduction of Dympna to her son-in-law John Cortens and a marriage creating two beautiful children Joseph and Helen. Life's purpose was all about making sure her loved ones were taken care of now and set up for the future. In her last year you could tell she felt a deep happiness and sense of fulfillment to have her son Tat-Liang marry a beautiful (inside and out) woman Gillian James Cheam and be part of a new family including Cameron and Calder, and of course their dog and cat, George and Mona. Her grandson Henry also married a fantastic person Amanda and she felt her remaining grandchildren Simon and Leo were well on their way through life's travels. In her last week here she managed to attend her son Tat-Liang's 50th birthday party at our regular family restaurant Kum Koon Garden. She was tranquil, but you could also sense a feeling of fulfillment and completion of duty in the air about her. She passed away knowing all her loved ones were taken care of and would be taking care of others in the same loving manner she had lived her life. We have solace in knowing she has joined her own loved ones, her daughter Tat-Siang and parents Giuseppe and Regina Blino in a place that knows no words, only harmony and peace. Maria Assunta Cheam, may you rest in peace, your work on earth is complete and you died knowing your love of life lives on in all family and friends you have touched. Many thanks go to her extremely close friend Gildetta Esposito who travelled all across the city by bus to be with her weekly at Misericordia, her dear friends the Esposito family, Edgardo and Cristina Campomanes, Albert and Edith Ahweng, Stan and Sheila Miller, and Michael and Rita Issigonis. Thanks also to the staff at Misericordia Cornish Interim Care for their devoted care and sensitivity they offered her in her stay. With all our love, your husband Eng See, son Tat-Liang with his wife Gillian and her sons Cameron and Calder, and your grandchildren Henry, Simon and Leo. May you rest in peace mama (nonna). You deserve forever peace and tranquility knowing you have left here a better place and imparted your thirst for knowledge, culture and humanity to all of us. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to CancerCare Manitoba at: www.cancercarefdn.mb.ca

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 24, 2016