Shiu Hing Lau Choy's Obituary
My mother, Shiu Hing Lau Choy (August 5, 1926 - August 9, 2024), was born in Yonghou Village, Shaxi Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province.
She was born amid turbulent times. After the Sino- Japanese war, the China Civil War broke out, making survival and life highly difficult. Mother took all these hardships in stride even as a child: She was filial, hardworking and enterprising, growing vegetables and selling them to help her family make a living. That earned her praise and high regards from the neighbors and all others who knew her.
Mother was good-looking – and her beauty also emanated from within. She was well-mannered and had great strength of character. At age 19, she married my father, Choy Koonting and had three sons and two daughters. After the political regime change in China, my father insisted on staying in the ancestral house, adhering to traditional values and a deep sense of responsibility to his country. Mother moved to Macau and later to Hong Kong with her children in 1960, and they received a great deal of help from Great Uncle and Grand Aunt. All of them lived together as a close-knit extended family! During her time in Hong Kong, Mother worked tirelessly in a garment factory and an electronic watch factory.
Because of the harsh circumstances, Mother only had access to a very basic education. That did not hinder her from applying her intelligence and diligence to acquiring knowledge, as reflected in her excellent grasp of Chinese poetry and history. She kept her mind sharp and well-oriented even up to her last days, even staying up to date with U.S and world affairs!
At the end of 1979, a major turning point came when Mother immigrated to the United States and settled in Oakland. She started learning English in her sixties and passed the citizenship test – something she was very proud of! She proudly exercised her citizenship rights by voting in every presidential election!
Mother was passionate about fitness, very self-disciplined, strong and brave. For a brief time, she also took care of her two granddaughters, Anna and Melanie, and had a profound influence on them. She valued education highly, not only for her own children, but also for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
All of us are so grateful for the nurturing and sacrificial love we received from Mother! Praise God that Mother accepted the Lord as her Savior and was baptized in the West Houston Chinese Church on Easter in April of 1999! Now she has ceased from her toiling and can rest in the bosom of our loving Lord. We are comforted by the eternal promises of our faithful God, and know that Mother will be resurrected in the last day and enjoy eternal life! Thank you and praise the Lord!
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