妻劉慶理(1923-2011)生平

賴永祥撰 刊於賴劉慶理長老娘告別感恩禮拜(手冊)p. 6-8 2011年11月19日。(日文版)


妻劉慶理出身於台南基督教望族劉家,是劉青雲(日本慶應大學理財學士)與本目貞(日本德川將軍旗本武士後裔)的長女,1923年10月30日在台南出生。

1930年4月由臺南花園幼稚園,進花園小學〔即今公園國小〕,再進臺南州立第一高等女學校。這些學校都是為日本子弟而設,她的臺籍同學,幼稚園只有薛淑真一名,小學同屆只有薛淑真和黃明子二名,而高女同屆(20屆)也只有薛淑真、鄭泌香、梁華、劉美惠、陳素姬、劉荔、洪秋惠七名。高女下一屆有歐關關、劉華惠。

1945年3月1日台南市遭到盟機的大轟炸,父母親因而疏散到新市三舍的佃農家,而她則疏散到山區南化舅公王啟順的家。她受母親之託,得照顧當時年幼的四弟備世,直至終戰才返回台南老家。

「慶理是傳說中庄司總一的小說《陳夫人》靈感來源的那位,嫁入基督徒大家族的日本夫人的女兒,是個漂亮,有知識,很有自己見解的優秀女子。在王育德的自傳裡,改了慶理的名字,熱情地寫出年輕時的王育德,在戰火波及台灣的日子,怎樣因為深愛著這位在測候所工作,活潑美麗的女子,從嘉義翻山越嶺地前往她避難的南化山區找她的往事。但這段姻緣因為信仰不同而作罷。」(王昭文)

《新約聖書一日一章》、高橋三郎著作集、《いのちの水》等。晚年重聽,無法聽清楚夫婿所讀,就改由她來讀,而夫婿聽,今年9月底她所讀的就是啟示錄21章了。

夫婿賴永祥東京帝國大學出身,返台後曾任私立延平學院講師、台灣大學圖書館閱覽組主任,台灣大學文學院圖書館學系教授兼系主任等職,1972年移民美國,任哈佛大學哈佛燕京圖書館副館長,直至1996年6月退休。夫婿曾是台北和平基督長老教會長老,現在是波士頓台灣基督教會的退任(名譽)長老。

夫婿是「書呆子」,日常生活迷糊,所以裡裡外外,大大小小,都是由她仔細打點,照顧得無微不至。近幾年,夫婿因近視深,出入也都由她開車。她是夫婿一生的幫助,及上主給夫婿最大的疼愛。

夫婦育有三個子女,長女賴真理,長男賴嘉成,次男賴嘉德。各在台灣完成大學學業後來美,均已成家而各有成就。現在長女和女婿John Olsen及外孫女李晶居Winchester, MA,長男和媳婦林麗敏及其男正恩一家居Andover, MA,次男和媳婦林婉玲及其兩男皓威,皓然居Lexington, MA。

 
 
 賴永祥劉慶理夫婦全家福 2003年1月5日攝

2011年10月3日慶理不慎在家滑倒、骨折,送醫急救開刀,因身體及心臟虛弱,引起肺部積水,一時臨危,卻得上主的憐憫,脫離險境。10月29日在復健醫院裡,家族為她舉行滿88歲(米壽)的祝賀聚會時,仍見她與每個人愉快交談,想不到她於11月5日在醫院裡平安地「睡了」。

A notice of decease of Helen Ching-li Lai (1923-2011)

Lai, Helen Ching-Li (Liu) of Arlington, MA. deceased November 5th, 2011 at age 88.

Devoted wife of John Yung-Hsiang Lai.

Loving mother of Jenny “Mali” Olsen and her husband John, Peter Chia-Cheng Lai and his wife Margaret Li-Min, Richard Chia-Te Lai and his wife Judy Wan-Ling.

Cherished grandmother of Christina Lee, Kevin Lai, Robert Lai, and Andrew Lai.

Also survived by many other loving relatives and friends.

Born in Tainan, Taiwan and the descendant of a Japanese Samurai Family, Helen graduated from the Aoyama College in Tokyo, Japan, and was a devout Christian throughout her life. As an accomplished classical pianist, Helen found much joy in family, painting, gardening and reading. She was very proud of her husband John’s association with the National Taiwan University and Harvard University where he was a well-known historian and librarian.

Buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery at 70 Medford Street, Arlington, MA.

A celebration of her life is being held at the Boston Taiwanese Christian Church (BTCC), 15 Elm Street, Framingham, MA on November 19, 2011 10 AM.


Helen Ching-li Lai: Dates Calculated

Helen was born on Oct. 30, 1923 and passed away on Nov. 5, 2011.

She lived on this world for 32,149 days, or 88 years and 7 days.

She married John Yung-hsiang Lai on Dec. 26, 1946.

Her married life spanned 23,691 days, or 64 years, 10 months, and 11 days.

Duration calculated from the start date to the end date, end date included.