Lucy Lee

Lucy grew up in Shanghai, China with her parents Sau Ying Wong and Charlie Han, and her two older siblings. She was the youngest of three. Around the age of 15 or 16, Lucy moved to Hong Kong with her mother. There, she worked as a seamstress in a clothing factory there until she was about 21 years old.

In her early 20’s, Lucy married Gung Din Lee and then immigrated to San Francisco, California. She initially lived with her husband and father, later settled into an apartment on Mason Street where she spent the next 50 years of her life.

Lucy worked as a seamstress for several years. In 1972, after the birth of their daughter Marge aka Margie, she became a stay-at-home mom. As Margie grew older, Lucy began babysitting for other families and volunteered at Saints Peter and Paul School where her daughter went to school, where she met many life-long friends.

She was an active member of the Tung Hwa Association where she loved playing Mah Jong, singing karaoke and hosting gatherings filled with homemade dumplings and hot pot meals for family and friends. Lucy was a true food lover and enjoyed discovering new restaurants and trying different ethnic foods. One of her food adventures was eating sushi when the first Japanese restaurant open in the North Beach area with her daughter Margie. Despite a language barrier, Lucy never let that stand in the way of connecting with people.

She had a generous and welcoming spirit. Friends and family always found an open door in her home. If someone needed a place to stay or a ride home—especially after Mah Jong—Lucy never hesitated to help, often volunteering Margie to drive regardless of what time of day it was and leaving Margie to return to look for parking.

She always looked forward and had a cheerful outlook. Life was not easy for her at times, but she would always say no matter how rough the sea is the boat will always dock straight which is the guidance she would give and to always move forward.

Lucy was also a beloved godmother to Janice, Nathalie, Catherine, and Jessica whom she cherished as her own daughters--and they, in turn loved her like their second mother.

She is survived by her daughter Margie, son in law John, and grandson Joshua; her goddaughters and their partners—Janice and Tom, Nathalie and Kevin, Catherine and Jeremy, Jessica and Tuan—as well as her god-grandchildren Amanda, Jordan, Davis, Donovan, Kaian, Shaylen, Anisten, Cassian, and Leo.

Lucy lived a full and meaningful life. She will always be remembered, deeply loved, and dearly missed.