Lucia TY Chian

Lucia Teng Yong Chian was born in Hangzhou, China on November 11, 1934. She lived an extraordinary life, having grown up in war torn China, fleeing for Taiwan in 1949 on the ‘Last Boat Out of Shanghai’ (also the title and subject of a famous book written by Helen Zia), and eventually winning a full scholarship in 1957 to study Horticulture Science at Oklahoma State University (OSU).

In her quiet and steadfast manner, she broke many barriers as both the only female and the only female of color in her undergraduate and graduate studies at OSU, all while still learning English. As the oldest of four children, she was responsible for bringing her parents and three younger siblings to the United States. In total, she sponsored and supported dozens of friends and family to emigrate to this country in pursuit of the American dream.

On June 3, 1961, she married Edward Shing Ke Chian, and they were married for exactly 61 years and a day when she passed away. Life together took them from Oklahoma to Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, and finally to Atlanta, Georgia where she raised her family and lived at the same home from 1978 to 2021.

During this time, she co-founded the Atlanta T’ai Chi Club in the 1980s which still meets to this day, supported her husband and founders of Atlanta Chinatown, managed rental properties, and was an independent franchisee for Market America. While she achieved professional success with Market America, her greatest accomplishment was raising her four daughters and watching her nine grandchildren, aged 9 to 21, grow up and mature.

Recently her daughters recalled that their mom never once yelled at them while growing up, a feat which they try every day (and sometimes fail :)) to replicate themselves as parents. They also recounted that she would often sit with and watch them get ready for school during their early elementary school years - a feat which none of them has even attempted (as any parent knows how hectic the morning schedule is)!

Her son-in-laws fondly remember her delicious cooking and how - though she was petite - a word from her and she could effortlessly shoo them out of the kitchen when it came time to wash dirty dishes.

Her grandchildren recall her kindness, teaching them how to knit and to fold origami, and playing Mahjong together. They also remember her deciding which chair each person sat at a restaurant, her brain teaser math problems, and last but not least - the generous ‘hong bao’ or red envelopes that were filled with money for gifts, Chinese New Year, and college tuition.

She is remembered by family and friends as always having a place at the dinner table for her children’s and grandchildren’s friends, as well as for many graduate students who her husband taught.

For the past 14 months, Lucia lived at Somerby Senior Living in independent living. As the only Asian female, initially she was nervous about moving, and she need not have been. There she found a warm and welcoming community and even started a Mahjong group that will henceforth be known as ‘Lucia’s Mahjong Club.’

Though her sudden passing came as a shock, it fills her family with an immense sense of peace, gratitude, and comfort that her heart was full during her final days, having recently watched one of her grandchildren graduate high school.

In death, she joins her beloved parents, Kao You and Mary One Zoo Chien, and her eldest daughter, Sarah Renee Chian.

Lucia is survived by her husband, Edward, her loving daughters Nancy Gresham (Hal), Elta Ratliff (Warren), and Jeanette Brooks (Dan) and her nine adoring grandchildren: Hayden, Nicole, Natalie, Owen, Garrett, Andrew, Evan, Conor, and Alana. She is also survived by her younger brothers, Rex Chian (Wendy) and Paul Chien (Susan), and younger sister Linda Chen (Paul) as well as many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Northside Hospital Foundation, Greatest Needs Fund. The Chian family would like to express heartfelt thanks and deepest gratitude to the Somerby community and staff and to Northside Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

A celebration of Lucia Chian’s life will be held on Saturday, June 11th at 2pm at Dunwoody United Methodist Church located at 1548 Mount Vernon Road in Dunwoody, Georgia.