Love leaves a memory no one can steal.
Biography
Martha Liya Tsai (蔡麗雅) was born in Kaohsiung (高雄), Taiwan. She attended Linyuan (林園 ) elementary school and graduated from Pingtung (屏東) high school. She then proceeded to vocational school and secured a job teaching sewing. During this time, she was fervently pursued by many suitors. Due to her kind heart, she declined a life of luxury and wealth to marry
Andrew Fang Chia Chang (張晃家). She knew that being a missionary's wife would mean hardship and constant change, but she accepted that challenge without hesitation.
蔡麗雅（Martha Liya Tsai）出生於台灣高雄，幼年就讀林園國小，畢業後，隨即考進屏東高中。離校之後，她在裁縫師傅的教導下精進裁縫技藝，帶著一身絕活找到了一份教授裁縫的工作。少女時期的瑪莎，身邊自是不乏仰慕者的熱烈追求。她天性善良，毅然拒絕了榮華富貴，選擇嫁給傳教士張晃家（Andrew Fang Chia Chang）。她知道嫁給傳教士為妻，就意味著必須過著困頓的生活和不斷搬遷的環境，但她毫不猶豫地接受了這個挑戰。
Being a devoted wife, she literally followed her husband to the "ends of the earth": When he was assigned to a primitive island without electricity or running water, she stayed by his side those two harsh years despite the physical toll it took on her body. Moreover, she managed to raise their toddler and kept her healthy in a world where only 50% of children lived to be 5 years old. Upon their return to mainland Taiwan, she had the very stressful, unpaid job of being a Pastor's wife, where her appearance, lifestyle, and housekeeping were under constant scrutiny and her children were expected to be perfect. Entertaining and feeding unexpected guests were a regular occurrence.
為了扮演好賢妻的角色，她緊緊跟隨丈夫浪跡"天涯海角"：婚後不久，丈夫於1968年被派往蘭嶼，當時那裏既沒電也沒自來水，是一座名符其實的原始島嶼，在島上的兩年期間，儘管生活艱難、日常物質匱乏並日漸影響她的身體健康，但是她依然陪伴在丈夫身邊，且努力撫養二個幼兒健康長大。回到台灣本島後，她成為牧師夫人，這個頭銜聽似響亮，然而壓力卻大、也沒有薪水。周遭眾人目光關注的，則是她的穿著打扮、家庭生活與家務操持；她的一對兒女被寄以最高的期望，都必須表現得最優秀。家裡經常會有不期而至的訪客，她也必須準備食物餵食款待、陪同談天說笑。
Then in 1976, she did it again, following her husband to a completely new world, the United States of America. Despite not knowing English, she immediately joined the work force to support the family while her husband went to school to start a new career. Communicating only through hand gestures, she became a instant success with her sewing skills and freehand embroidery. Customers could bring her a photo, and she would embroider the picture onto leather and denim jackets flawlessly. Her work was so impressive, she was featured in a major newspaper article.
1976年，她再次跟隨丈夫前往一個全然陌生新的世界：美利堅合眾國。儘管不懂英語，但是賺錢養家的需求迫切，強烈到讓她能無視這道小小的語言障礙。她隨即捲起袖管，靠自己的裁縫手藝賺錢養家。此時，丈夫則為了進入新的職涯領域而到學校進修學習。工作時，與顧客的溝通順暢無阻，唯獨不靠言語對答，而是肢體語言加上比手畫腳。久而久之，她憑藉熟練的縫紉技巧和手推刺繡技藝完成的作品得到顧客極高評價，名聲從此一炮而紅。她只需看顧客給她的照片，就能將圖案絲毫不差地刺繡在皮革和牛仔夾克上，這樣的作品令人眼睛為之一亮，甚至一家大報的記者還因而為她寫了一篇專題加以報導。
Upon her husband's graduation, she left her sewing to raise their two children (Jane [Liing] 瓈尹 and Peter 敦皓), moving every year as Andrew climbed the corporate ladder. Her life was full of packing, unpacking, learning a new city, and adjusting to new schools for her children. Eventually, around 1982 she parted ways with Andrew to give her children a stable home and consistent schooling. For the next several years, she kept a very busy home sewing business and provided her children with all the advantages of two income families. It was with great pride that she sent her children to the Medical and Engineering Schools at the University of Michigan.
丈夫自學校畢業後，瑪莎放下了縫紉工作，專心照顧他們的兩個孩子（Jane,瓈尹和Peter,敦皓）。隨著晃家在公司內職位不斷攀升，他們也跟著需要每年搬家。她的生活忙碌重心不外是：打包搬家、重新布置新家、熟悉新環境，以及幫助孩子們適應新學校。為了給孩子們一個穩定的家和學習環境，在1982年前後，她終於和晃家分道揚鑣。在接下來的幾年裡，她忙碌地經營自己的家庭裁縫事業，因而凡是一般雙薪家庭孩子該有的的資源，她自己的小孩也一樣都不缺。她的二個孩子最終分別進入密西根大學的醫學院和工程學院就讀，對她而言，這一直是最引以為傲的成就。
Martha had taken a job with Ford Motor company in 1979, but was laid off in 1981 due to a recession in the industry. She returned to Ford Motor company when she was called back several years after her divorce. At Ford, she was well liked and known to be an extra smart worker whom even the engineers would listen to. It was while she was at Ford that she met Bob Pawlitz, with whom she kept company for several years. Later she shared her life with Carlos Aros, whom she also met at Ford. They were companions until his death just one year before Martha's departure.
瑪莎在1979年進入了福特汽車公司工作，但由於1981年的汽車業不景氣而被裁員。而後，在她離婚數年後又被召回福特汽車公司。在公司內部她受到大家的喜愛，並且以聰明靈活且知道變通而聞名，甚至連工程師們也會聽取她的意見。正是在福特期間，她遇到了Bob Pawlitz，與他相伴共度了幾年時光。後來，她在福特認識了Carlos Aros，與他分享了她的生活。他們二人一直是相互珍惜的伴侶，直到Carlos先瑪莎一年離世為止。
Aside from her amazing sewing and embroidering skills, Martha was an incredible artist, capable of drawing/painting anything she sees. The banner image of the cloudy mountain range on this website was painted by Martha when she was practically blind. You may also find some of her paintings in the photo gallery. She took an airbrush class and produced the boot (in photo gallery) as her first painting. Her instructor indicated that no one had ever picked up that art form as fast as she did. In the photo gallery, you will see her daughter in a yellow + white dress and matching hat. That was crocheted by Martha WITHOUT a pattern. When she was in Taiwan, she would arrange flowers for church services. You can see some of her creations in the photo gallery as well.
瑪莎除了擁有不凡的縫紉與刺繡技藝之外，同時也是一位出色的藝術家。她能畫出所看到的任何東西。這個網站置頂的橫幅，呈現山嵐雲霧繚繞的朦朧之美，就是瑪莎在幾乎失明情況下的畫作。您可以在這個網站下面的相冊中看到她的其餘畫作。她也曾參加噴槍繪畫課程，網站相冊中的靴子就是她的第一幅此類畫作。她的指導老師表示，對於她能如此迅速地掌握這種藝術運作技巧，感到訝異，他前所未見！相冊中瓈尹身穿黃白婚紗禮服、頭戴禮帽的相片，禮服上面的繁複圖樣是瑪莎未參照任何圖案編織出來的。她在台灣時，就會為教堂禮拜布置裝飾花卉，一些作品呈現在相冊中。
Upon retirement, Martha spent her time enjoying her grandchildren: Peter's son Connor and Jane's children Andrew, Lia, and David. They were her pride and joy. She spent most of her retirement creating a dream home.to leave to her children as her legacy. She had an amazing green thumb, producing fresh veggies and an abundance of fresh fruits whenever her family came to visit. She was a master at creating relaxing outdoor settings among her fruit trees, a place where the whole family could gather and relax. Alas, she developed lung cancer and succumbed to the illness in March 2024, passing peacefully with all her children and grandchildren at her bedside.
退休後，瑪莎最享受與孫子們相處的時刻：敦皓的兒子Connor，瓈尹的兒女：Andrew、Lia與David。他們為她帶來了驕傲與快樂。這段時期， 她投注大量精力與時間在建立夢想中的舒適家園，想要在身後做為留給子孫們的遺產。她天生就有種植蔬菜水果的驚人本能，每當家人來看她時，總能品嚐到她親自栽種滿桌的新鮮蔬果。她也擅長在戶外庭園的翠綠果樹之間，營造讓全家人可以自在放鬆的相處空間。令人不捨的是，醫生宣告她罹患肺癌，於2024年3月終究不敵病魔摧殘，而在子女與孫子女病塌前的陪伴下，安詳離世。
Photos
Share
I have learned so much from her. She was full of cooking/housekeeping tips and life hacks. She was there with relationship advice. But most of all, she taught me how to be a creative Mom. When I was 3 years old, I learned how to use a pair of scissors. I was so fascinated that I wanted to cut paper all the time. Due to the windy nature of our home (we had open doors and windows all the time due to lack of air conditioning), paper scraps would fly all over the place. She placed me in a kiddy pool so that all the scraps would be contained and easy to clean up. She left the scissors and paper in the pool so that whenever I wanted to cut, I could climb into the kiddy pool by myself. (We had a kitchen/family room combo, so she was always in the same room.) From her, I learned to foster independence in my young children by creating environments that control the situation while letting them help themselves.
When she was a single mother of two, she could have moved back to Taiwan, where the cost of living was lower and she could get help from her family, but she stayed in the US and worked long, stressful hours so that my brother and I could stay in the American schools instead of having to learn a new language and suffer a lot of catch up work in Taiwan, risking our futures. When I was competing in music and my brother in tennis, she drove us without complaint, even though I know she feared driving in unfamiliar places. My mother worked so hard and sacrificed so much all her life to ensure that my brother and I had everything we needed to be successful in life. Thank you, Mom, for everything.
When times were tough, Mom started a home business altering clothes. In middle school, I remember her rushing to pick me up from school after delivering or picking up clothes from her customers. I also remember sometimes waking up in the middle of the night and finding her working hard, sewing late into the night. Even when I was sleeping, she was there, working to provide for us. At the time, I was too young to appreciate her dedication, but her unwavering love has left a lasting impact on me.
As I got older, I remember I saw a leather jacket that I really liked at a store in the mall. My mom saw me trying it on and then put it back because I thought it was too expensive. I was employed and earning my own income by then, but my mom snuck back to the store and purchased the jacket without me knowing. I remember it was a little big on me, but it didn’t matter. I really cherished that jacket.
I miss you every day, Mom. Your love and sacrifices have shaped me into the person I am today, and I’ll always treasure these memories.
My grandmother never really knew when to quit. Grandma was unrelenting in her beliefs about the right way to live, always giving me and my cousins advice about how to live happy and healthy lives. Sometimes it was hard to take this advice, but it was always very clear that she imparted it from a place of love. She had an unparalleled conviction, and it made her a dedicated and loving grandmother.
As a young adult who is still trying to figure out what kind of person I want to be, I find a lot of inspiration in my grandmother. Grandma knew how to dream big and always fought for what she believed, and those are two qualities that I hope to emulate. I love you, Grandma. I’ll do my best to keep making you proud.
希臘人說，把人生當成一場花束般的饗宴，品嘗美食、享受對話，等到用餐完畢，就起身感謝主人，然後離開。
生命在彼此陪伴的過程中相互交織，
離世者帶著我們的祝福重新啟程～
仙世，民俗曰「過身」，蟲蛹羽化成蝶。
去世，耶家曰「蒙主寵召」，進升天堂。
逝世，佛家曰「往生」，飛向他方淨土。
祝福三姑
「移民」平安
MengZhi Tsai：
The Greeks said that treat life as a bouquet-like feast, taste the food and enjoy the conversation. When the meal is over, stand up, thank the host, and then leave.
Life is intertwined in the process of accompanying each other,
The departed take our blessings and start again~
In the fairy world, the folk custom is "transition", when an insect chrysalis emerges and turns into a butterfly.
After his death, Ye Jia said he was "called by the Lord's favor" and went to heaven.
Death is called "rebirth" in Buddhism and flies to another pure land.
Bless third aunt
"Immigration" safety
●洪肇成：
敬愛的三姨 終於卸下世間的勞苦 安息主懷！ 甚感不捨與懷念！
緬懷三姨 甚重親情 甚至連後輩也都視如己出，初一時為免我與四舅 通學舟車勞動之苦 在鳳山租間小茅屋 於教裁縫班後 還照顧我們的三餐，及長都感恩在心！大學聯考前 還提供我清靜舒適的自習環境~台東更生教會。在那順利完成訂終生的最重要ㄧ試。
三姨移居美國人生地不熟 遇到艱困狀況 還是身兼父職排除萬難的栽培兒女完成高等教育。
即使在經濟不很充裕下 亦多次返台省親。在知道媽媽癌
末時 還特地返台探望，準備了三姨喜愛的‘烤地瓜’+本土煮番麥，姐妹倆就邊敘舊 憶兒時 歡笑中度過，離開時三姨忍住紅框的淚珠說：此行一別 再見不易，這將是今生最後一次相聚了！
我知此刻我們心裡都在淌血！
三姨平靜的口吻告知罹癌 甚感震驚。
正在治療中，效果不彰，換了標靶藥副作用很大 我就想蒐集北榮有新先進儀器 已有多位成功案例 ，供参考。三姨說醫囑 當前健康狀況不宜飛行 返台就醫計劃就此終止。
標靶藥治療副作用一直無改善。有次三姨說 那種治療的生活品質，她不喜歡 而且最多也莚長幾個月而已。她淡定篤定的說：決定停止治療 直接面對病魔的挑戰！何等的勇氣 無懼！
時刻到 三姨終於戰勝死亡 ，獲得重生！小蝴蝶終於破繭而出，自由遨翔天際 永住天家！
我爸 媽與二姨也會與您相會！
最後我們終將重聚在天家！
××× 人一出生 就朝死亡邁進 臨終就是重生的開始！
以臨終當作新開始
這時間就是無限
懷疑中能生出信心
這生命就是永恒
從死亡得進入復活最後要高歌凱旋
那時刻尚未顯露前
只有上帝看得見
Hong Zhaocheng：
My beloved third aunt finally put aside all the toil in the world and rested in peace! I feel so sad and missed!
In memory of my third aunt, I attached great importance to family ties and even regarded treats us as her own. When I was in the first grade of junior high school, third aunt rented a small hut in Fengshan for my fourth uncle and me to avoid the hardships of boating and cart labor. Be grateful! Before the college entrance examination, they also provided me with a quiet and comfortable study environment ~ Taitung Rehabilitation Church. Successfully complete the most important test of your life there.
The third aunt immigrated to the United States and was not familiar with the place. She encountered difficult situations, but she still had the role of a father and overcame all difficulties to train her children to complete higher education.
Even when the economy was not very prosperous, he returned to Taiwan many times to visit relatives. After learning that my mother has cancer
At the end of the day, they made a special trip back to Taiwan for a visit and prepared Third Aunt's favorite 'roasted sweet potatoes' + local boiled wheat. The two sisters spent the time laughing and reminiscing about their childhood. When they left, Third Aunt held back her red-framed tears and said: It’s not easy to say goodbye and see each other again. This will be the last time we get together in this life!
I know our hearts are bleeding at this moment!
I was shocked when she told her that she had cancer in a calm tone.
During the treatment, the effect is not obvious, and the side effects of changing the targeted drug are very serious. I want to collect Beirong's new advanced equipment and there are many successful cases for reference. The third aunt said that the doctor advised that the current health condition was not suitable for flying, and the plan to return to Taiwan for medical treatment was terminated.
The side effects of targeted drug treatment have not improved. My third aunt once said that she didn't like the quality of life of that kind of treatment, and it would only last a few months at most. She said calmly and confidently: She decided to stop treatment and face the challenge of the disease directly! What courage and fearlessness!
When the time comes, Sanyi finally defeats death and is reborn! The little butterfly finally breaks out of the cocoon and flies freely into the sky to live in heaven forever!
My parents and second aunt will also meet you!
Finally we will be reunited in heaven!
××× As soon as a person is born, he heads towards death. Death is the beginning of rebirth!
Treat death as a new beginning
This time is infinite
Doubt can give birth to confidence
This life is eternity
From death to resurrection and finally to singing in triumph
Before that moment is revealed
Only God can se
麗雅三姊剛才往生了。
survived Tsai ：
Third sister Liya passed away just now.
祝福三姐，您脫離苦海了！！
Li Jingxiang：
Congratulations to Third Sister, you are out of the sea of suffering! !
眼前的景象和三姨已走了，沒有任何關聯性，
車子一部接一部往前走，向前向後向左向右，心裏有的，只有三姨走了！
落莫 失落 感傷
一陣風吹來，抬頭一看，曾經盛開過的梅花，最後一朵掉下來了。
花落了！
三姨
永遠存在我心中。
Hong Zhaoze：
The scene in front of me has nothing to do with the fact that my third aunt is gone.
The cars moved forward one after another, forward, backward, left and right,
All I have in my heart is that my third aunt is gone!
Lost, sad, sad
A gust of wind blew, and when I looked up, I saw that the last plum blossom that had been in full bloom had fallen.
The flowers have fallen!
third aunt
Always in my heart.
祝福三姑姑
我們遠在台灣無法幫忙，只能在內心悼念三姑姑.
台灣隨時歡迎瓈尹姐姐回來！
Tsai Yixin：
Bless the third aunt
We are far away in Taiwan and cannot help, so we can only mourn the third aunt in our hearts.
Taiwan welcomes sister Au Yin back at any time!
希望三姑可以安息,回到她的主身邊。
阿彌陀佛
Tsai Yijuan：
I hope Sangu can rest in peace and return to her Lord.
Amitabha
三姑帶著強韌的生命力,辛苦了一輩子,祈願能在她的神的懷抱裡帶著平安喜悅好
好安息!
阿彌陀佛
Tsai Yishan~
Sangu has worked hard all her life with her strong vitality. She prays that she can live well in the arms of God with peace and joy.
Rest in peace!
Amitabha
我親愛的三姨，您是最漂亮、聰慧、記憶力最好、和藹可親的三姨，我們永遠會懷念您，您已經辭了世上的勞苦，安息主懷。求主耶穌基督親自安慰，看顧與保守瓈尹和敦皓的家人ㄧ切平安健康。
Zhilong (Zhaolong)：
My dear third aunt, you are the most beautiful, intelligent, best-remembered, and amiable third aunt. We will always miss you. You have given up the labor of the world and rest in peace in the arms of the Lord. May the Lord Jesus Christ personally comfort, watch over and keep the families of Ou Yin and Dun Hao safe and healthy.
感謝您從小到大一直給我的溫暖與關懷。
In my memory, Aunt Martha was always so beautiful and talented!
Thank you for the constant warmth and affection you gave me since childhood.
Martha雖是我的長輩，言談交流卻行雲流水，感覺像忘年之交。
她與我的對話，總是流露出真誠、關切與勇敢。
她在我的人生留下了美好影響：溫暖與堅韌。
人雖離開了，精神猶在。
謝謝妳, 三姑。
寶凱
Although Martha and I were not related by blood, she felt more like family to me.
Even though Martha was my elder, our conversations flowed effortlessly, like those between lifelong friends.
In our dialogues, she always expressed sincerity, concern, and bravery.
She left a beautiful impact on my life: warmth and resilience.
Though she has passed away, her spirit remains.
Thank you Martha!
Paokai
Thanks to Meng Xi for sharing Cousin Liya’s memorial page with me.
In my impression, she is a beautiful and strong woman, very smart and independent. Faced with various challenges in life, she never gives up. She always works hard to get what she wants or achieve the goals she seeks. She was also very artistic and painted even during her illness.
Cousin Liya came to Taiwan for visiting relatives three times in 2010, 2013, and 2017, respectively. She also came to visit Jwo-Fan and me. During the days we got together, we arranged several gatherings for her with relatives in Taipei, took her to the Shilin Official Residence to see flowers, visited the International Flower Expo, went for a walk in Yangmingshan, and went to Tamsui to visit her third uncle. Attached are some photos of her for your memory.
Although Cousin Liya has passed away, our thoughts will always be there.
Wan-Wan Huang
感謝孟熹分享麗雅表姐的紀念網頁。
在我的印像中，她是個美麗又堅強的女人，非常聰明、獨立。 面對生活中的各種挑戰，她從不放棄。她總是努力以赴以獲得她想要的或實現她所尋求的目標。 她也非常有藝術天賦，甚至在生病期間也在畫畫。
麗雅表姐曾於2010年、2013年、2017年三度來台探親，也來看卓凡和我。相聚的短短幾天裡，我們為她安排了幾次與台北親戚的聚會，帶她去士林官邸看花，參觀國際花博會，去陽明山散步，還去淡水探望三舅。 附上照片供您紀念。麗雅表姐雖然過世了，但我們的思念將永遠存在。
瑪莎表姐在我小時候還曾經幫我洗尿布，我真是遺憾沒法再碰面了，祝願她離苦得樂！
謝謝二姊分享對麗雅表姐的懷念。
她的確是個意志堅強獨立的女人，她對爸媽非常好，他們很喜歡去底特律找她玩。
有一次她帶大姑，麗愛表姐和麗龍表哥去波士頓看二姑，我去載他們下來紐約玩， 並送他們去華盛頓看三姑。
她的女兒結婚，我也代表爸媽去底特律參加婚禮。
最後一次見面是二姊和姊夫帶我們去北海岸玩。 我因時差, 在車睡著了…😊
Invitation
