Joy Ling Kao

March 3, 1943 - February 14, 2021

Joy Ling Kao was born in Shanghai, China, the youngest daughter of four, to Abraham and Lydia Kao. As a young child, her family barely escaped into Hong Kong from the Chinese Communist regime. After graduating high school, she went to and graduated from nursing school at The Haven of Hope Sanatorium. She was married then later divorced, with one daughter.

In the late sixties, Joy immigrated to the United States with her husband and daughter where she became a US citizen. She was able to earn her nursing certificate and became a Licensed Vocational Nurse. She worked as an LVN until retiring from Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, in 2008.

Being the daughter of a pastor she was imparted with a deep Christian faith that sustained her soul to her last corporeal day on earth. She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church of Chinatown in San Francisco for almost 40 years. She loved singing in the choir and formed close bonds with many in her church family. Her generosity spread out to many charities. Among her favorites were Navigators and Bay Area Rescue Mission.

Joy was a California resident for fifty years, living in Hercules for the last thirty. On February 14, 2021, after a hard fought battle against post-surgical complications, Joy peacefully joined her mother and father; sister, Mary; and niece, Olivia in heaven. She was 77 years old.

Joy leaves behind her only daughter and daughter’s husband, Autumn and Tom; sister and brother-in-law, Grace and Andrew; brother and sister-in-law, David and Amy; four nieces, Sophia, Rebekah, Sylvain and Erica; three nephews, Daniel, Jerome and Sam; two step-grandchildren, Mitchell and Lane; ten grandnephews, three grandnieces, two great-grandnephews and one great-grandniece. We look forward to being reunited with her one day.

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I worked with Joy at Alta Bates Hospital in Surgical Services. Joy was a wonderful colleague and friend. She seemed quiet but showed a warm and caring way, a terrific sense of humor and an amazing work ethic. She was a dedicated nurse and it was a privilege and joy to know and work with her. Condolences to her beloved daughter and family.

I worked with Joy in the Surgical Services Department at Alta Bates Hospital. Joy was a good colleague and friend. She appeared quiet but actually had a kind and caring way, a lovely sense of humor and an amazing work ethic. She was dedicated to service and care. It was a privilege to know and work with her. Condolences to her beloved daughter and family.

We have known Joy since early sixties. We have been in very close contact with her since early nineties when we moved to Southern California where coincidentally her daughter Autunm is. We used to get together whenever there was a chance mostly when Joy came to visit Autunm. Joy and we called each other very often so we knew what was going on with either of us except this last time in last December when Joy needed a heart valve repair surgery. We didn’t know what had happened to her until she had been in the ICU unit a few weeks following the complications from surgery. We prayed and prayed thinking Joy would pull her through the episode. We are so sorry that she has now left us to be with the Lord without letting us to have a chat with her like always. We will greatly miss our best friend who is a happy joyful person and a long time close friend. We will think of you very often. Be restful in Lord’s arms, Joy.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.