Joyce Choi Kai Hung passed away peacefully on Nov. 11, 2024 at the age of 99. Born in Guangxi Province in southern China, Joyce grew up during the turbulent wartime years of Japanese invasion when air raid warnings were common. She attended boarding school then went on to study Horticulture at Lingnan University where she received her degree before coming to the U.S. to seek opportunity and further her education. Quickly adapting to life in a new country, she attended UC Berkeley, receiving her second degree in Food Technology in 1951. She married Joe Hung shortly after, and the two of them settled in Albany to raise a family. Soon after the birth of their second daughter, Joe’s life was sadly cut short by leukemia, leaving Joyce to raise their two young girls as a single working mom. It was a role that she took on with self-sacrificing courage and devotion.
Generous in nature and a true believer in education and opportunity, she opened her home to welcome nieces and nephews as they came to this country to pursue their dreams. Her home became a way station for them during their early years of college at nearby UC Berkeley. In turn, they became role models for Joyce’s own two daughters who would follow in their college footsteps.
Joyce enjoyed a long career as a food chemist, beginning with a first job at Heinz. From there, she went to work for Durkee, where she headed up their spice lab for many years. When Durkee moved out of the area, rather than uproot and leave her beloved Bay Area, she chose employment in the canning industry with National Food Processors Association in Berkeley from which she eventually retired.
Joyce’s passions included gardening, sewing, Sudoku puzzles and Jeopardy. She could always be found with some sort of project in hand, whether it be quilting, rug making, knitting, needlework or making Christmas stockings for her grandsons. She was quite accomplished.
Joyce also loved to travel. Her many adventures with friends and coworkers took her to far off places around the world including the Great Pyramids of Giza, Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China.
In addition to her husband Joe and sisters Jean and Yvonne, Joyce is preceded in death by a daughter, Angela Emily. Left to treasure her memory are daughter Debbie Deddo, son-in-law Ken, grandsons Kyle and Evan, and nephews and nieces: Ken, John, Elsie, Jienlin and Carole.
Joyce Choi Kai Hung passed away peacefully on Nov. 11, 2024 at the age of 99. Born in Guangxi Province in southern China, Joyce grew up during the turbulent wartime years of Japanese invasion when air raid warnings were common. She attended boarding school then went on to study Horticulture at Lingnan University where she received herContinue Reading
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