Michelle Fong Beam

BEAM, Michelle Fong

Died Tuesday, January 2 at the Sacramento Kaiser Permanente Hospital following a sudden brain aneurysm. She was 38. Michelle was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. She participated in the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps, attended Kennedy High School serving as Senior Class President, and graduated from UC Davis in 1989. She worked as a researcher for the Legislative Intent Service in Woodland and later as a claims specialist for State Farm Insurance Co. Settling in the Greenhaven/Pocket area of Sacramento with her loving husband Todd, she enjoyed being a stay-at-home mother for their son, Ryan Connor, age 5. She had just given birth to their daughter, Lauren Elise, four weeks earlier. With no clear warning, she succumbed to a sudden, fatal brain aneurysm. As an employee, regardless of where she worked, she was always considered a manager's dream: sharp, hard-working, diligent, organized, and a true team player. Her strength as a person was demonstrated 5 years ago by her putting in a full day at work only to come home and deliver Ryan, without medication. After the birth, she decided to answer her true calling as a stay-at-home mother, using her natural ability as a warm and loving mother. She took so much joy in immersing herself in Ryan's life whether it was busily cutting photos for a scrapbook, taking trips to Disneyland or the train museum, setting up play dates at the park, or bedtime reading with her son. She daily radiated happiness and pride as a mother to her children. She also shined as a cook and loved being in the kitchen, her culinary gifts passed down from her mother, and enjoyed by friends and family. She had an eye for color, interior design, and decorating and took pleasure in repeatedly sending her husband to the paint store. She loved travel, books, and food, often simultaneously. Her keen intelligence was complimented perfectly by her sweet silliness and love of all things feline. If you were lucky enough to know her, you already know how special she was. Always loyal and true, she perfectly balanced her sharp wit with a childlike enthusiasm. She demonstrated her generosity in her final act in choosing to be an organ donor enabling her to positively affect many other lives. She is survived by her loving husband Todd; her son, Ryan Connor and daughter, Lauren Elise; also her devoted parents, Roger and Carolyn Fong; grandmothers, Martha Fong and Dorothy Chan; aunts and uncles, Pat Frew (Robert), Terrence Fong (Donna), Connie Chow (Weldon), Wally Chan, Jean Moore (Russ), Elaine Chan; and her cousins, Shari, Michael, Brian, Christopher, Courtney, Garret, and Casey; father in-law, Warren Beam; brothers in-law, Scott Scherer and Mark Beam and preceded in death by her mother-in-law, Markeen Beam; and her aunt, Sandra Terada. A memorial service will be held in her honor at the Harry A. Nauman & Son Land Park Funeral Chapel, 4041 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA, on Saturday, January 14 at 11:00 AM.