Luyu Ding

Luyu, known as Lu to her friends and family, was born on March 15, 1970 in Xinyang, Henan Province China. After graduating from high school and obtaining a degree in accounting from the Hebei Institute of Geology, she worked for a time in Nanjing.

It was always her and her family’s dream for her to start a new life in America. With her Uncle Ken’s sponsorship, and everything she owned in two pieces of luggage, she arrived in San Francisco in April 1992.

Relishing the chance to succeed, she quickly adjusted to life in her new country and earned an MSBA degree from San Francisco State University. On one of her first days on the campus, she met Melody and they struck up a lifelong friendship. Through a friend of Melody’s she was introduced to Kevin, and the two got married in 1996.

A career at various high-tech companies in Silicon Valley followed over the next couple of decades. The big joy and treasure of her life, her daughter Jennifer, arrived in late 1999. Always a proponent of education, she instilled in Jennifer a love of learning and even found time herself to earn a masters degree in taxation in 2009.

A kind, gentle, and caring person, Lu spent some of her later years volunteering with various organizations and making life better for others.

Lu was predeceased by her father Jinhui. She leaves behind her husband Kevin, daughter Jennifer, her mother Jin Ling, sister Lu Ping and brother Lu Ming as well as her Uncle Ken. In addition, many other extended family members and friends in China, Thailand, Canada and America are left behind. Lu will be remembered for her selflessness and grace, her patience and humility as well as her strength and courage.

A celebration of Lu’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation, in Luyu’s name, to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (curemeso.org) and/or the American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org)