Helen Wong Leong

Helen Wong Leong

Feb. 7, 1913 Dec. 3, 2004

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2004, at 1:00 p.m., at Hillcrest Memorial Chapel. A visitation will also be held on Friday, December 10, 2004, 4-8 p.m.

Born and raised in Bakersfield, Helen was 91 when she passed away peacefully in her sleep at home. She attended Hawthorne Elementary School, Emerson Jr. High and KCUHS (gold seal member of C.S.F.). Her parents died when she was a young teenager and being the oldest girl of 4 siblings, she learned at an early age to manage finances and cook for everyone. She was a member of the Chinese Womens Club; she was active until recent years.

In 1931 she married Willim Leong and together raised 3 children, Bill Jr., Sylvia and Stanley.

Helen and Bill along with Bills sister, Lucie and her husband, Cecil Lee opened the Rice Bowl in 1948. For the next 50 years they worked long hours, and were delighted with the success of the business. Helen was especially good at dealing with the public.

Bill preceded her in death just last year. She leaves 3 children: Bill Leong Jr., Sylvia Shishido, and Stanley Leong; 4 grandchildren, Lisa Howard, Landon Leong, Jason Shishido, Dean Shishido; 2 great-grandchildren, Kyle and Matthew Howard.

The family would like to thank her caregivers for their devoted care of mom, Sharon Phillips, Celia Acuna, Dora Banos, Rosa Canchun and Ingrid Castillano.