Aichu Y. Chang

Ai-Chu Chang had passed away peacefully on February 28, 2022 at the ripe age of 93.

Ai-Chu was born in Jen-O, Fukien in 1928 to one of the wealthiest family in the city. She had a happy and carefree childhood. She was engaged to Shih-Cheng Chang in her teenager years and the wedding was supposed to take place after she finished college. However, everything changed because of the Sino-Japanese War and the civil war that followed it. As the Communists continued to advance toward their city, she was forced to wed at the young age of 18. After the wedding, she and her husband were able to flee to Taiwan on one of the last planes available.

Her life in Taiwan was very different and much more difficult than the life she was accustomed to. She had to learn everything afresh from how to cook, how to do laundry, how to buy grocery…but she took it in stride and eventually became an exemplary cook and super-mom/super-wife who was able to provide a warm and loving home for her family despite limited financial resource.

Since her husband worked for the State Department and eventually being appointed as ambassador, she had traveled extensively to the Philippines, Korea, United States, Peru, the Solomon Island and New Guinea. She was especially grateful that she was able to stay in New York for several years while her husband served as vice general consul since her older son, Henry, was residing there at that time. She was thrilled that she was able to stay in Houston for several years later on while her husband was serving as general consul since her younger son, Peter, was residing there.

After her husband’s retirement, they moved back to Houston so they could be close to their grandchildren who were blessed to have a chance to know them well and be blessed with their love and wisdom.

In addition to taking care of her family which is always her top priority, Ai-Chu is also quite accomplished in Chinese painting which she learned in her 60s and became one of her teacher’s best students.

Ai-Chu had a rich and colorful life. She was blessed to have two wonderful sons and daughter-in-laws, six awesome grandchildren and two lovely great-grandchildren.

To celebrate her remarkable life as a loving grandma, mom and wife, there will be a Celebration of Life reception at the Texas Liberty Mausoleum at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home (13001 Katy Freeway) on Saturday, March 12 from 2pm to 5pm. It will be a festive reception to celebrate a life well-lived and well-loved.

The family wishes to use this occasion to not only celebrate her life but also the life of any of the attendee’s loved ones who had departed. A rose will be provided to each guest to honor their loved ones.

This will be a private reception by invitation only. Wine and Hors d’Oeuvres will be served.

Your presence and love are what count and the family respectfully decline all flower arrangements. If you really feel that you need to do something, you can make a small donation to either Chinese Community Center (ccchouston.org) or KNOWAutism (know-autism.org).