Michelle Tang's Obituary
Small stature, huge heart, all bark with no bite; a tiny package wrapped around an incredible work ethic. Tang Mei-Hsia was born on the island of Taiwan in 1951, grabbing on to the tail of the Tiger on the 21st day of the 12th month of the Chinese calendar. Six zodiac cycles later, she left us in 2023, on the other side of the Pacific from where she was born, as Michelle Tang, still holding on to the tail of the Tiger, on the 22nd day of the 12th month of the Chinese calendar.
Mei-Hsia (which means “beautiful glow of light and clouds at sunrise and sunset”) was the second child and eldest daughter of parents who fled the Jiangsu Province of China when China fell to Communist rule. Mei-Hsia’s earliest memories are of moving from one place to another throughout Taiwan as her father searched for work and business opportunities to support his growing family. Tragedy struck as Mei-Hsia entered her teenage years when her father died of a simple cold that the impoverished family could not afford to treat. Mei-Hsia took care of her younger siblings while her mother worked to keep a roof over their heads and food on their table. The family was always grateful for the charity of the Catholic Church and without the financial support of a church member from Australia, Mei-Hsia would not have been able to afford to attend or finish high school. Mei-Hsia always loved children and became a kindergarten teacher after high school. A chance meeting at a friend’s house during Chinese New Year and short courtship after that resulted in the lifelong city girl marrying Wilber Liu, an up-and-coming businessman who was born country boy and was more than twice her age. Together, they moved to the United States in hopes of creating new opportunities for their four children and Mei-Hsia became Michelle.
An unexpected betrayal led the family to financial dire straits a few years after immigrating to the U.S. After a few more years scrambling to make ends meet, they managed to purchase a small Chinese video and bookstore, and with her husband by her side, Michelle worked tirelessly to grow the store into a thriving business. Within 5 years most Mandarin speakers in San Diego County knew of Far East Bookstore and the helpful and gregarious Mrs. Liu. Michelle always believed that anything was possible as long as you were willing to put in the work. After 8 years of never taking a day off, Michelle and her husband sold the store for more than 10 times the cost of what they paid for it. Michelle spent the last third of her life taking care of her elderly husband and her adult children (who never stopped needing her), while doting on her beloved grandchildren and grand nephews and grandniece. In 2014, she was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis after it became increasingly difficult for her to walk without losing her breath. As someone who never smoked a day in her life, Michelle resented having to rely on supplemental oxygen 24/7. With a median survival of 3 to 5 years following diagnosis, IPF is characterized by a progressive decline in lung function and quality of life in most patients. Although she fought hard and beat the odds, sixty years after her father died of a cold that developed into something more, Michelle passed away on January 13, 2023, after catching a cold in late December that overwhelmed her IPF weakened body. Michelle used to warn her children that they would regret not appreciating her nagging and unsolicited advice. As always, she was right: We miss you so much, Mom.
Michelle Tang was laid to rest at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland on January 20, 2023, next to her husband, Wilber Liu, who predeceased her by one year and one month. She is survived by her children, Shu (Oscar), Michael, Shirley, and Shinny (Frank); grandchildren, Nicklaus, Justin, Elena, and Alexander; her niece Chinghua (Yingtsai) and their five children, her siblings, Tang You-Sheng, Tang Wu, Tang Ying, Tang Mei-Li, and their respective families.
The family is grateful for condolences and asks that donations be considered for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, UNICEF, or any charity that helps children in need.
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