JAI, Beatrice Beatrice (Lew Yew Wah) Jai, loving mother to Julie and devoted wife to Raymond (d. 2004), died peacefully on August 24, 2017, after a short time in the coronary intensive care unit at Toronto General Hospital. She was 89. Beatrice is survived by her daughter Julie (and David Trick), sisters Florence King and Betty Nann (and Don Nann), and brother Art Lew, and predeceased by her siblings Chew, Chuck, Henry and Pat. One of eight children born in Vancouver to immigrant parents who struggled to provide for their children through the Great Depression and a time of anti-Chinese sentiment, Bea learned early the value of hard work, practicality and determination. In her early 20s, she moved with her sister Flo to Toronto in the hopes the bigger city would offer more opportunities. She was soon followed by her smitten Vancouver singing teacher, Raymond, who would become her husband. Ray was a multi-talented musician and orchestra leader; Bea a beautiful, lithe, glamorous young lady. Together they were instrumental in establishing the Yeit Hoy Cantonese Music Society and mounted many Cantonese operas at Ryerson Theatre. But for the most part, life was hard work. Through discipline and self-sacrifice they eventually purchased a home in Rosedale, renting part of the house to help pay the mortgage, and then bought a rental property, with Bea doing many of the renovations, repairs and maintenance herself. It was their way of earning something they had never before known: a feeling of security. The greatest joy for Bea and Ray came in the form of their daughter Julie, whom they adopted in 1961. Bea focused her determination on ensuring that Julie had the opportunities in life she had missed out on herself, including a university education, and took tremendous pleasure in following her daughter’s professional achievements and personal adventures. Her enjoyment of family was enhanced through regular gatherings of the extended family in the Toronto area. She was fortunate that her sisters were also her best friends. Bea worked for many years as an educational assistant at Church Street and Lord Lansdowne Public Schools where she was famous for her creative bulletin boards and craft projects with the kindergarten class. In retirement she enjoyed reading, knitting and playing mahjong and euchre with friends. She will be deeply missed. At Bea’s request, there will be no memorial service, as she was determined that there should be no crying. Rather, friends and family are invited to share happy memories of a good woman and a life well lived on the Toronto Star’s obituary website.