Sheu Leung Lee

Sheu Lee's life

Sheu Lee was born on July 4, 1931 in Guangdong, China, the eldest of three children, to Dr. Leung Kee and Mrs. Leung Poon Dor Un. She lived a privileged life until World War II broke out. After losing her younger sister during the conflict, she fled China on her own to live in Hong Kong, rooming with three other single women, taking such odd jobs as being a nanny and doing fine piece work, sewing and embroidering, Sheu eventually saved enough to bring both her mother and brother to Hong Kong. It was also in Hong Kong where she lived on the second floor of a building and later met the love of her life, Wing Sun Lee, a young accountant who lived upstairs on the third floor.

They married in 1956 and had three children before Wing's aunt Sue Wong in Portland, Oregon, sponsored the family for immigration to the United States in 1964. After spending a year in Oregon and experiencing snow for the first time, Wing's cousin, Betty Wong, helped him find work in a warmer climate in Sacramento.

Sadly, after a long illness, Wing passed away at the young age of 50, leaving Sheu to raise her school age and college bound children on her own.

Sheu lived through some challenging times, braving World War II, laboring in Hong Kong to bring her family out of Communist China. Later, after immigrating to the US, she worked in the cannery at night so she could take care of her kids and go to English school during the day, then supported her children through college so they could live more fulfilling and quality lives

Among Sheu's proudest accomplishments after learning English, included earning her US citizenship and passing the driver's license , but most of all, earning enough money for extras such as paying for swimming lessons for her sons and piano lessons for her daughter, and buying their first home (fondly known as the pink apartments) with help from Uncle Kay Sin Lee. Her greatest passion in life was her family. Sheu loved her children, grandchildren, and great granddaughter.

She also had a passion for food (cooking and eating), gardening (and could grow anything from a seed or even a twig!), and travelling, and was always up for the next adventure.

Sheu is survived by her three children and their families - Tom and Barbara Lee, Judy, Ken & Sophia Kershaw, Jim, Kristine & Alison Lee, and Mike, Tori & Charlotte Lee, and Geoff and Aubrey Lee.