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Obituary for Helena Cheuk Li Ching

Helena Cheuk Li Ching, 73, died March 22, 2020 in San Francisco, California of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer).

Helena was born September 27, 1946 in Guangzhou, China. An only child, Helena grew up in a loving home with her parents. Her father, Liang Dong Li, was a high school teacher and administrator, and her mother, Zhi Qing Yan, was an English and Russian language teacher. From an early age, her parents instilled in her the Christian faith, which was central to her identity throughout her entire life. Also from an early age, music played a large role, and she learned to play both the piano and the accordion.

She graduated with a degree in physics from Zhongshan University (also known as Sun Yat-sen University) in Guangzhou in 1970. Afterwards, she was a physics teacher in the city of Panyu in the Guangdong countryside. Helena married Robert Ching in 1972. In 1975, they moved to Hong Kong, where she worked as a seamstress in a garment factory and then as a bookkeeper. In 1978, Helena and Robert immigrated to the United States, living first in San Francisco, California, then in Albany, and eventually settling down in San Jose. Helena spent most of her working career in the United States as an IT professional in Silicon Valley, while Robert was an engineer and manager. She was a loving daughter to her parents, who immigrated to the United States and lived with them, and she was a proud mother. Helena and Robert raised their only daughter, Liza, in the same manner that Helena was raised: instilling in her the Christian faith, and cultivating a deep love of music through playing musical instruments. Helena dedicated considerable time over the years toward her daughter’s music education through piano lessons, recitals and competitions, and then later on with violin lessons and youth orchestra performances and tours.

Helena spent the final decade of her life as a very devoted grandmother, living across the street from her daughter’s family in San Francisco, California. She picked up her granddaughters from school every afternoon, supervised their homework and piano practice, and shuttled them to piano lessons and dance classes. They had a special bond, and she loved taking them on outings around town to see professional ballet and orchestral performances as well as going shopping in Chinatown. In addition, she found time to travel all over the world, embarking on 30 trips over the course of 12 years. She also was an active member of her church in San Francisco, serving many years as a pianist for the church choir.

Helena is survived by her daughter, Liza, son-in-law, Byron Hing, granddaughters Esme, Elsa, and Esther, and her ex-husband, Robert.

In lieu of flowers or money, the family suggests making a donation to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation ( https://cholangiocarcinoma.org ).