Kong Yau Lowe's Obituary
Kong Yau Lowe was born Kong Yau Choi in the Fa Yuen village of China in Guangdong on November 17, 1926. Kong was born into a farming family, and she was the only child. Her family lived in extreme poverty, and her parents could not afford clothing, education, or even enough food. Because her parents couldn't provide for her, Kong was adopted by another family when she was ten. Kong was a servant to a large family with four children. Her adoptive father worked as a chef in the United States.
In 1948, Kong immigrated to the United States to marry Kwai Ning Lowe at only 22. Kong escaped the harsh civil war in China to begin a new life in California. Kong and Kwai lived with Kwai's younger brother in a rented apartment before buying a home. Kwai owned Canton Low, a Chinese restaurant, in Salinas' Chinatown. After giving birth to her first child Shirley in 1949, Kong's family grew rapidly as she welcomed Linda, Marilyn, Kathryn, Mary, Stan, and Julie. Kong helped to raise her step children, Don and Charles. Kong had a tremendous work ethic; she not only toiled in the fields of Salinas bunching onions, but she also raised and educated her large family. She was especially proud of her children's degrees and careers.
In 1985, Kwai passed away, so Kong was widowed at 59. After Kong's children married and had their own families, she was a doting grandmother and great-grandmother. In her golden years, she loved traveling, learning to read and write English, and gardening. Her faith was a cornerstone of their life, and even in her last days, she could recite scripture by heart. Kong went to meet Jesus on January 28, 2025 after nearly two years in hospice; she was 98 years old. Kong was an indomitable force of nature blessed with a long life and a large family. She is dearly beloved and will be missed beyond measure.
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