Fung Kiu Leong

As a young student in China, Fung Kiu was very proud of her abacus and math skills, which few could match. She also showed great abilities memorizing and reciting Chinese proverbs. She carried this ability through her life, demonstrating impeccable recitation skills until just before her passing.

While living in China, Fung Kiu married John Leong. The couple had six children, three boys, and three girls. In 1967, the couple, along with their 3 youngest children, immigrated to the United States and settled in Portland, Oregon, the adopted home of her husband’s father and grandfather.

Fung Kiu worked for many years in several Chinese restaurants in multiple roles, including dishwasher and preparation cook. Her longest tenure was at the Pagoda Restaurant in the Hollywood District in Northeast Portland where she worked from the mid-1970s until her retirement in 1996.

After retirement, Fung Kiu had extra time to enjoy her favorite hobbies. She liked talking to friends and family on the phone. She always looked forward to and loved visits from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her other interests included listening to traditional Chinese opera, watching the accompanying opera movies, and cooking many kinds of Chinese foods, such as Chinese tamales (both sweet and salty ones), Chinese mochi, and other Chinese pastries and dumplings. She made it a point to celebrate her ancestors through traditional cooking on every holiday and anniversary.

Her children remember that Fung Kiu knew what dish each of them loved, and would prepare their favorite when they would visit. She was always attentive to them and their needs.

Fung Kiu lived a very simple life. She was content with very few material possessions. She believed in the inherent good of people and was always willing to provide support even to the extent of sacrificing her own needs and wants. While working full-time, she spent many hours during her days off and before and after many regular work days to support the entrepreneurial aspirations of her 2 oldest sons. In her retirement, she dedicated similar efforts to support her youngest daughter’s start-up business. She also provided much support to helping more distant members of the Leong Family into which she had married as well as several of the children of her own brothers.

Fung Kiu passed away in her home in Portland, Oregon with family at her side. She was 97 years old. To celebrate her life, a funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Monday, August 17, 2020, in Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home. Viewing will be available from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, August 16, 2020.

Fung Kiu is survived by her brother, Gum Shi Chan; children, Chun Kit Leung (Bing), Nancy Chan, Mo Lin Joe, Pak Man Leong (Mavis), Marilyn Leong, and Lee G. Leong (Sumi); 11 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Fung Kiu was a strong and independent mother and wife who worked very hard to provide for her family. She had an endurance for working long hours while staying efficient and an innate ability to overcome any physical discomfort she may have felt. Her love of family, inner strength and determination will be remembered by all of her surviving family and friends.