Obituary for Shuet Yiu Lau Wong

Name:  Shuet Yiu Lau Wong

Birthplace:  Toi Shan, Guangdong, China

Date of Birth:  July 28, 1926

Shuet Yiu Lau Wong was born on July 28, 1926, in Toi Shan, Guangdong, China.  Mrs. Wong grew up in a farming village, her task was to water the gai choy, bok choy, and sweet potatoes that were grown.

Mrs. Wong married Loy Ying Wong on June 8, 1948.  As a veteran of the United States Navy, her husband was granted citizenship, allowing them to emigrate into the United States.  The couple arrived in San Francisco on October 5, 1948, and with $60, they started their family in a single room apartment. 

Mrs. Wong’s first job was peeling shrimp at Fisherman’s Wharf, while her husband worked as a waiter to provide for their growing family of four children.  Mrs. Wong soon found a job at a sewing factory, where she excelled as a seamstress, while her husband, with diligent self-study after work, was able to secure a job with the United States Post Office.  The couple both worked at their respective jobs until they retired.  When not at her job, Mrs. Wong utilized her sewing skills to make clothing for her entire family.  After retirement, Mrs. Wong continued to mend and alter clothes for her family. 

Because of their efforts, all four of their children were able to fully devote their time and energy to their academic studies and graduate from college.

Mrs. Wong enjoyed and excelled in the culinary arts, and would go “all-out” in preparing multiple dishes for the weekly family dinners and encouraging everyone to take home leftovers.  A family favorite was her ‘Very Eggy Sponge Cake”, a recipe passed on to her from the pastry chef at Chinatown’s Eastern Bakery.

Mrs. Wong also served as the barber for the men in her family, and would often provide that service for visiting relatives, as well.

Mrs. Wong took great pride in tending to her backyard garden, which consisted of an apricot and a white peach tree, sugar cane, gaw-gei (Chinese Boxthorn), chayote, and green onions.  Mrs. Wong’s garden also bloomed with fuchsias, lilies, and Christmas succulents.  The resulting harvest supplemented the Sunday dinners, and added color to her home.

Above all, Mrs. Wong enjoyed time spent with her family.  She relished the time spent with her children, grandchildren, and especially the great-grandchildren.  The great-grandchildren loved visiting with their great-grandmother, and showered her with lots of love, hugs and kisses.  Mrs. Wong made everyone who stepped into her house-family, friend or visitor-feel welcomed to make themselves at home.

Although Mrs. Wong became a naturalized citizen, she herself did not speak English fluently, but she understood enough to inject a pithy comment or opinion, often at the right time to elicit a great deal of laughter, as well as to caution the family that she was always listening.

Mrs. Wong was never one to put up a fuss about herself, preferring to dole on others.  She would never complain about her health and would only admit to being sick when it was evident to the casual observer.  Even in her later years, when family members would call to check up on her, she would answer the phone with a curt “What?  Why are you calling?” 

Thankfully, for the most part, Mrs. Wong was blessed with good health, and she passed away after a brief illness on April 20, 2019.  We, the family, are especially grateful for the wonderful care afforded to her by the staff at San Francisco General Hospital.

We will always remember Shuet Yiu Lau Wong for her generous love, kindness and care, and as the guiding force for the family.  She is survived by her four children, Susan Lum (Bob), Eugene Wong (Miranda), Shirley Quan (Robert), and Gordon Wong (Nancy); grandchildren Siobhan Chan (Garrett), Dustin Wong (Valene), Jaime Wong, Becky Quan and Tori & Eric Wong; great-grandchildren Gideon & Seona Chan and Eliana & Jackson Wong.