Virginia Iu Lee 饒文鳳

Virginia was born on December 25, 1935 in Hong Kong to Mr. Iu Chun-Kee and Mrs. Iu Tsang-Lan. She was home schooled in her early years by her father, then graduated from the elite Diocesan Girls School in Kowloon, Hong Kong. She went on to receive her B.A. in English Literature at the University of Hong Kong. In 1961, she immigrated to the U.S. to attend graduate school, eventually earning her Master’s degree at New York University, also in English Literature. Upon arrival on the West Coast by ocean liner, she spent time travelling before heading to New York. During this time, she met a dashing young man, Wallace Tin-Wah Lee (李天華) at Union Station in Los Angeles in a chance encounter after he chivalrously offered to help with her luggage. After a cross-country train ride and many letters exchanged, Wallace and Virginia wed in New York City in 1964. Wallace remained her beloved and devoted husband for more than 55 years.

The two of them raised a close-knit family. In addition to her husband Wallace, Virginia is survived by her brother, Kow Choy Iu of Hong Kong; daughter Althea Lee, son-in-law, David Parker and granddaughter, Natalie Parker of Amsterdam, Netherlands; son Bernard Lee of Mountain View, CA; daughter Celia Lee and son-in-law Clarke Holland of San Francisco, CA; and daughter Darlene Lee of Santa Ana, CA.

After working as a part-time English teacher while raising her children, Virginia re-entered the workforce, embarking upon a career as a business analyst at Blue Cross of California. Throughout her life, she enjoyed all aspects of music, including singing and teaching herself to play the piano as a teenager, and was a classic film buff. She and Wallace enjoyed attending classical concerts together and were avid ballroom dancers; the tango was their favorite dance. Upon retirement, she took great joy in spending time as a doting and involved grandmother and travelling the world with Wallace.

Virginia will be remembered for her warm and beautiful smile, her youthfulness and fun-loving attitude, and her incisive and accurate observations which allowed her to provide sound and caring advice. She paid steadfast attention to her personal relationships as a devoted wife, a loving and proud mother and grandmother, and a kind-hearted and loyal friend. She had a keen memory for details, whether they involved family history or plot points and characters in the movies that she, a lifelong night owl, often watched into the wee hours of the morning, always accompanied by a little midnight snack. As a stylish dresser with masterful accessorizing skills, Virginia personified elegance to match her vibrant personality.

Due to the pandemic, a viewing will be held for immediate family only at El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, on Sunday, December 27th. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Tremble Clefs of San Diego, a therapeutic singing organization for people living with Parkinson’s, or the Parkinson’s Association of San Diego.