Obituary of Joseph Yee

On Saturday January 8th, our beloved Joseph Yee was called home to be with our Lord in while under medical care in Brooklyn NY. The eldest son of Chinese immigrants Marianne and Steven Yee, “Pops” referred to by his loved one and close friends, was born in San Fernando Trinidad on March 3rd, 1949. After attending school, he later met and found the love of his life Sandra Gopaulsingh. As it was love at first sight the two courted for some years, later married and remained married for 49 years until his beloved wife preceded him in death in 2019. The pair welcomed two children while still in their native home of Trinidad; however, he was dedicated to providing a better life for his family, so he eventually immigrated to Brooklyn NY in 1980 where he obtained his citizenship and later worked as a welder by trade to successfully transition the rest of his family. After settling in Brooklyn, the family continued to grow they later welcomed two more children making their family complete. Joseph later retired as a welder but was a “Jack of all trades”. Commonly known as “Mr. Fix-It”, he would often find things to fix, build or create. He and his wife would later open a local Flower Shop as Mrs. Yee had a particular love for flowers. The two found joy in creating and providing beautiful floral arrangements for members of their community. As much as he loved the advantages of becoming an American citizen, he was still an Old School Trinidadian at heart. He loved “cock fight” with his friends and had a profound joy for cooking and preparing meals for those that he loved. He had a special appreciation for nature and animals such as dogs and birds in particular. He collected birds as a hobby and won various ribbons and trophies at local birds shows. A dedicated family man, he often doted and cared for his wife until her final earthly breath. He continued to care for his children and grandchildren in the same loving way. His proudest moments were when he could spend the day teaching his grandchildren new wonders of nature and life. He was and is truly an inspiration to all that knew him and loved him, and he presence here will truly be missed. He is survived by his sisters, Janice and Jackie, his brother Hillary, his children Steven Yee, Beth Santiago, Nadia Yee, and Tiffany Yee, grandchildren Joey Yee, Jade Santiago, Amber Santiago, Raymond Santiago Jr., Olivia Yee, and Hailey Sanabria. Thank you for the love, the memories, and may he rest in eternal peace…