Beadie Chiou

Life Story

Lan Mei Chiou was born on March 4, 1934 in Chiayi, Taiwan.

She was the fifth child of Ten Yuen and Lan Lin Chiou. While she did have six siblings, she spent the majority of her childhood years with her two sisters, Lan Sean (Jean Hayes) and Lan Fon (Shurly Zanella) due to their closeness in age. Later on, the three sisters opened a dress shop in the Chiayi’s busy downtown district. They offered the latest tailored dresses showcasing popular 50’s American-influenced styles. This novel look helped them to gain popularity and grow their business.

Even with the success of their business, all three sisters wished to fulfill the dream of moving to the United States. In 1967, Lan Mei made the move to the United States, following her two sisters who had made the move earlier. She then adopted the name “Beadie Chiou”. In 1971, she met Conrad Ingram, and they married later that year. By 1973, she joined her sister Jean in operating their tailoring and alterations shop in San Bernardino. This shop was patronized by many repeat customers, who also became long-time friends. After operating the shop for over thirty-four years, both Beadie and Jean retired. They then both moved to Rancho Cucamonga full-time in 2010.

Beadie always enjoyed laughter and possessed a witty sense of humor. She was a loving, generous, and compassionate person. She would take in abandoned dogs whom she took very good care of in addition to her three successive Lhasa Apso dogs that she named Lucky, Lucky Two, and Lucky Three, much to everyone’s amusement.

She was known for her generosity, and as her family, we would often comment that you could never “out-give” Auntie Beadie. If you gave her something, she would turn around and give you back ten-fold! Beadie also loved to travel. In addition to her trips back to Taiwan, she and Conrad were able to travel extensively throughout the United States. She would enjoy showing friends and family pictures and mementos from her travels.

Beadie had taken Chinese cooking classes, and made many gourmet Chinese dishes throughout the years, which she shared at many family holiday get togethers. She enjoyed gardening and growing her own fruits and vegetables. She was a very hard working and active individual, always busy with some project. She also preferred walking much more than driving and would continue to walk to various businesses in her neighborhood throughout the years.

Unfortunately, in July of 2022, she suffered a health event that would require 24-hour care. Her niece, Junice immediately moved in to take care of her medical and everyday needs and manage the household.

Beadie reached the golden age of 90 years old on March 4 this year, and leaves behind her loving sister, Shurly Zanella, nephew, Alan Zanella, nieces, Arlene Zanella Gannon, Junice Hayes Popejoy, Suzy, Elizabeth, and Drayfong, and second cousin Joey Chiou, as well as many grand nieces and grand nephews, here in the US. She also leaves many extended family members in Taiwan.

We would like to thank her very dear next door neighbors, Steve and Kathi Hanson and her team of wonderful caregivers, including; Shelley, Irmalinda, Irene, Erica, Bonnie, Brenda (her lovable pup, Ande), and Susan. Much gratitude to the wonderful, kind and compassionate nurses from Vitas Healthcare which include Dallaney, Maria, Valarie and other nurses. They always put a big smile on her face when they came to visit.