Rosemary Janson-Wong

1943 - 2024

10/14/1943 - 9/14/2024
Rosemary Janson-Wong, age 80, died peacefully on September 14, 2024, after two years battling terminal cancer. Rosemary was born in Suva, Fiji, to Harry Janson Ho and Ho Jang Lai Fong in 1943. She is survived by her spouse Raphael and son Nate Wong. Rosemary found her calling in hospitality, first helping to run her family restaurant, Golden Dragon, in Suva, Fiji, and then moving to Hawai'i to study hotel and restaurant management, through a scholarship from East-West Center. She then took on roles at the Royal Hawaiian and then later at Houlihan's (now closed) outside of Washington, DC, moving to the mainland for love and her spouse, Raphael. They married in 1977 and later had their son Nate. Stateside, she was an entrepreneur and started businesses ranging from business catering, daycare, and elder care – all with a hospitality lens.This hospitality transcended her profession and extended into the home and her everyday demeanor, which included inviting strangers for Thanksgiving dinners and generously volunteering to help her community. She was active in the Hawai'i State Society, and also performed with their ukelele hui in Washington, DC. Early in life, she was an outspoken advocate for women's rights and cross-cultural understanding, actively participating in Pan-Pacific and Asian women groups in Fiji and in Hawai'i. Rosemary's hospitality is only rivaled by her passion for food and cooking. Her dishes draw inspiration from her diverse background, melding Chinese, British, Fijian, Hawaiian, and American cultures. They include her famous cold chicken with ginger and garlic, flaky and gooey apple pie, British-style meat pie, and more. Food and company were her staples until the end. Her presence will be profoundly missed; though her legacy of hospitality, advocacy, and generosity will continue to inspire us and leave a memorable imprint on all who knew her. The family will host local friends and family at Shouse Village Community Center (1432 Towlston Rd., Vienna, VA 22182) on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 4 p.m. for a celebration of life event; and they will coordinate a separate ceremony in Hawai'i at a later date.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Hawai'i State Society of Washington, DC, or the East-West Center in memory of Rosemary.