Shun Oi Chiu

A Life of Strength, Determination, and Love

September 1921 – October 2026

Shun Oi Chiu (趙順愛) passed away in October 2026 with her family by her side. She had lived to the remarkable age of 105.

Born in Fow Shek Village (浮石村), Taishan City (台山市), Guangdong Province, China, Shun Oi grew up at a time when education was not available to every child, especially girls, but her parents recognized her intelligence and made sure she had schooling. She studied mathematics and Chinese poetry and had talent for numbers. Even in her later years, her family often joked that no one could ever fool Shun Oi when it came to money or figuring out prices.

Shun Oi married into the Chan family in Doushan Town (斗山鎮), where she took on the demanding responsibilities of rural life. Her family relied heavily on her for farming, preparing large meals, and managing the farm's finances. She kept careful track of livestock sales and made sure the accounts were accurate. She often spoke with pride about how she put her math skills to use during those years. Shun Oi also endured great hardships, including living through the Japanese invasion of China and losing her first child, a daughter, around the time of the child's birth. She lost her husband while her son and surviving daughter were still very young but devoted herself to raising them and giving them a better future. She chose not to remarry.

When the family moved to Hong Kong, she found work in a paper cup factory. Though money was tight, she still found ways to give her kids small comforts, like fresh pastries and milk before school. As her children started their own families, Shun Oi traveled back and forth between countries, helping her son raise his children in Hong Kong and her daughter care for her two children in Boston. Eventually, she made Boston her permanent home, settling in Jamaica Plain, where she would live for many years. Shun Oi spoke little English but she was never afraid to try speaking English. She had great confidence and a curiosity and friendliness that helped her connect with people wherever she went. In 1997, Shun Oi proudly became a United States citizen. She valued her right to vote and made a point of participating in elections.

Some of her favorite pastimes were knitting and crocheting, generously gifting homemade hats, scarves, and vests. She took great pride in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was always eager to tell others how smart and talented they were. Red envelopes, candies and snacks were always ready when children visited. She enjoyed celebrating birthdays, holidays, and special occasions that brought everyone together. Chinese traditions were very important to her. She faithfully observed important dates on the Chinese lunar calendar. She prepared offerings of chicken, roast pork, char siu, and fresh fruit, lighting incense to honor departed family members and pay respect to Chinese deities.

Shun Oi worked as a seamstress in Charlestown and Somerville until her retirement. She moved to live independently at a senior apartment in Boston in her later years until her final year at a nursing home in Quincy. Shun Oi had remarkably good health and her memory remained extraordinary. Even in her final days, she could recall people, places, and events from decades earlier with surprising detail. She is survived by her two children, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

After a lifetime of hard work, love, and devotion to her family, may Shun Oi rest peacefully.

Funeral and Burial Arrangements

· Funeral Service

Thursday, October 29, 2026 · 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Deware Funeral Home · 576 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02170

· Committal Service (Burial)

Thursday, October 29, 2026 · Approximately 1:00 PM

Central Cemetery · 327 North Street, Randolph, MA 02368

· Luncheon Following the Burial

Family and friends attending the burial are welcome to join the family afterward at Ming Seafood Restaurant, 477 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02171.

· Flower Arrangements

Bella Florist · (617) 338-6888

[email protected] · www.bellafloristboston.com

永遠懷念 趙順愛女士

堅毅、勤勞、充滿愛的一生

1921年9月 – 2026年10月

趙順愛女士於2026年10月 在家人陪伴下安詳離世，享壽105歲。

順愛出生於中國廣東省台山市浮石村。喺佢細個嗰個年代，唔係每個小朋友都有機會讀書，尤其係女孩子。但佢嘅父母知道佢聰明、鍾意學習，所以安排佢接受教育。順愛讀過數學同中國詩詞，尤其擅長計數。直到晚年，屋企人都經常笑住講，講到錢銀同價錢，冇人呃得過佢。

順愛年輕時嫁入斗山鎮陳家，肩負起農村家庭好多辛苦嘅工作。佢要落田耕種、煮飯畀一大班人食，亦要幫手管理農場嘅帳目同財政。牲口買賣嘅數目同收入，佢都記得清清楚楚，確保每一筆帳都計得準確。佢生前經常自豪咁講起，當年就係靠自己識計數，先可以將農場嘅帳目打理得妥妥當當。

順愛年輕時經歷過唔少艱難日子，包括日本侵華戰爭帶來嘅恐懼同動盪。佢第一個孩子係女兒，可惜喺出世前後不幸離世。後來，丈夫亦喺兒子同另一個女兒仲細個嘅時候離世。順愛決定唔再改嫁，一心一意撫養兩個孩子長大，希望畀佢哋一個更好嘅將來。

一家人後來搬到香港，順愛喺一間紙杯廠工作，努力養大仔女。雖然當時生活唔富裕，佢仍然會盡量照顧孩子，返學前買新鮮餅食同牛奶畀佢哋。到仔女長大成家，順愛又繼續幫手照顧孫輩。佢經常往返香港同波士頓，幫兒子照顧香港嘅孫女，亦幫女兒照顧波士頓嘅外孫同外孫女。

後來，順愛正式喺波士頓定居，並喺牙買加平原區（Jamaica Plain）生活咗好多年。雖然佢識講嘅英文唔多，但從來唔怕開口同人溝通。佢有自信、好奇心，又親切友善，所以無論去到邊度，都容易識到新朋友。1997年，順愛自豪地成為美國公民。佢非常珍惜自己嘅投票權，亦一直積極參與選舉。

順愛平時最鍾意嘅活動之一，就係織冷衫同鈎織。佢親手整過好多帽、頸巾同背心，經常送畀親戚朋友。佢亦十分疼愛孫仔孫女同曾孫，成日開心咁同人講起佢哋有幾聰明、幾叻。每次知道細路仔會嚟探佢，佢都會準備好利是、糖果同零食。

順愛亦好重視一家人團聚，鍾意同家人一齊慶祝生日、節日同其他特別日子。中國傳統習俗對佢嚟講一直都好重要。每逢農曆重要日子，佢都會準備雞、燒肉、叉燒同新鮮生果等祭品，點香拜祭已故親人同敬奉神明。佢一直守住呢啲傳統，亦將習俗傳畀下一代。

順愛曾經喺查爾斯鎮（Charlestown）同薩默維爾（Somerville）做裁縫，直到退休。晚年，佢搬入波士頓一間長者公寓，繼續過獨立自主嘅生活。生命最後一年多，佢喺昆西（Quincy）一間護理院度過。

順愛一生大部分時間都身體健康，記性更加一直非常好。即使喺生命最後嘅日子，幾十年前嘅人物、地方同往事，佢仍然可以記得清清楚楚，講得十分仔細。

順愛身後留下兩名子女、五名孫輩，以及五名曾孫輩。

順愛一生勤勞、堅強，將好多心血同愛都奉獻畀家人。願佢放下辛勞，安詳長眠。

喪禮及安葬安排

· 喪禮

趙順愛女士嘅喪禮將於2026年10月29日（星期四）上午10時至中午12時，在 Deware Funeral Home 舉行。

地址：576 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02170

· 墓地安葬儀式

安葬儀式將於同日下午約1時，在 Central Cemetery 舉行。

地址：327 North Street, Randolph, MA 02368

· 安葬後午餐聚會

參加墓地安葬儀式嘅親友，歡迎儀式結束後同家人一齊到昆西嘅 Ming Seafood Restaurant（地址：477 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02171）共進午餐。

· 鮮花安排

如欲訂購鮮花，可聯絡 Bella Florist：

電話：(617) 338-6888

電郵：[email protected]

網站：www.bellafloristboston.com