Wanda Kwai-Wan Chiu

September 6, 1924 - July 6, 2024

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Sunset View Mortuary

Tuesday 7/16, 10:30 am

Our mother Wanda Chiu had a full life. Her extraordinary life began in September of 1924. Her father was a Chinese immigrant who returned to America for work when she was only in her mother’s belly. She didn’t have a chance to meet her father, and her mother passed away when she was three. She grew up and became an adult under the care of her close relatives. Despite these hardships, she got her undergraduate degree with support from her father. She graduated from Guangzhou College of Commerce in 1948 and became an accountant. During World War II, she met my father who was at Sun Yat-sen University studying veterinary medicine whom she later married. Together, they built a family with four children – Danny Chiu, Olivia Chak, Jenifer Man, and Alex Chiu, who all became accomplished people under the care of their parents. They were all by mother’s side when she fell ill.

Our mother was a pillar of the family in our hearts. She protected this family with all her might. Our mother was very smart, adaptable and determined. She was extremely capable, putting all her efforts into helping our father grow and nourish our family. For example, she served as an accountant for the Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University and never once during this time did she make a mistake. She put every penny that she made into our family. To give another example, she was an organized and acuminous partner when helping father manage their friends’ textile company in Macau. This really is a testament of our mother’s shrewdness.

On top of that, what we are most grateful for was her attentiveness and her encouragement for us all to pursue education. She has been an advocate for education ever since we were little, and her diligence carried from China to Macau to the U.S. Thanks to our mother, all of us were able to obtain a college degree or above. We live the lives we live today thanks to how she led and supported her family.

Our comfort in our homes and success in different industries are attributed to her taking the first step. To give her children more opportunities, she brought her kids to the U.S. and endured many challenges along the way. We want to sincerely thank our parents for all the sacrifices they’ve made. They sacrificed a comfortable life in China so we have the opportunities and freedom to work hard towards our goals, and live comfortably. Thank you mom, hope you rest in peace.

Sunset View Mortuary

Tuesday 7/16, 10:30 am

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Julie, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.~ ProSafe Team

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Memorial to Wanda Wanda, my eldest sister, was my Dad’s (Fred) first child. My Dad returned to China in 1923 to marry as was a common custom for Chinese immigrants. But according to the immigration rules, he had to return back in the US within one year. Wanda was born a few months after his US return. He wasn’t able to hold his first child. Wanda’s birth mother passed while Wanda was quite young. Wanda was now being raised by her grandmother in China. My Dad always sent money for her care. He tried unsuccessfully to bring Wanda to the US. Then in 1942 my Dad married my Mom (Ida). She was able help Dad straighten out Wanda’s petition. The road block was my Dad still wasn’t a naturalized US citizen. Dad became a naturalized US citizen in 1955 but by now Wanda was married with children. The nature of the petition has changed. A new petition needed to be prepared. After Dad’s passing my mother took up the challenge and made Wanda’s petition for immigration come true. Wanda could only bring her husband, Edmund and their two boys, (Danny &Alex). They entered the US in San Francisco in October 1967. Wanda and her family settled in Sacramento. Being in the military and deployed I wasn’t able to witness Wanda’s family’s entry into the US. I returned three years later from deployment and we finally met. It was a very heartwarming meeting when we were able to hug and see each other for the first time. Later Wanda’s family was able to seek the American dream by purchasing a home in the Greenhaven district in Sacramento. We had many visits to the house for family affairs. Later Wanda and Edmund moved to the Lake Merritt area in Oakland. This became a focal point for many more family occasions as her children also made their homes around the Bay Area. Although I didn’t grow up with Wanda, I had always admired and looked up to her as a great role model. She and her family were able to come to America and start a new life here without much help. She and her family were able to realize and fill their American dream. All of her children (Danny, Olivia, Jennifer and Alex) are successful are able to do it as well. Wanda and her family never forgot the work and effort that my mother took. Wanda and her family readily adopted my mother as their own. Wanda is certainly a great role model as my great big sister. Raymond J. Ong (Jimmy)

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