Ella Wong Lee

She passed away peacefully in the early hours of Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Ella was born to Look Lee and Gin Shee Lee in San Francisco, CA, on December 11, 1927. Ella was raised in Chinatown during the Depression and would help with the family cigar business. Later, the family operated Look Lee Grocery for over three decades on Pacific Avenue and a young Ella helped the family business, especially during the years her brothers were away in WW2.

In 1952, Ella married Benson Kee Lee, and they later welcomed their daughter, Joycelyn, to complete their family. They moved from San Francisco to San Jose in 1962, where Ella enjoyed the rest of her years with family and friends.

Ella was an administrative assistant for the San Jose Unified School district, where she retired in 1992. She found a community and lifelong friends through the Chinese American Women’s Club of Santa Clara County (CAWC). Her legacy is left in print through a cookbook published by the group, “Chinese Cooking: Our Way”. Ella, along with many other members, provided hundreds of recipes to highlight the group’s purpose of “preserving Chinese culture, traditions, and service to our community.” [From the cookbook’s introduction]

In her retirement, Ella embarked on a love of travel, learning, and teaching. She visited China, Japan, Canada, east coast states, and enjoyed road trips to Tahoe/Reno. Ella was such a poker fan that she was gifted a poker machine at her retirement party. She was also a talented floral artist in the art of Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) and a dedicated Tai Chi student. Still healthy and spry in her 80’s, Ella guided a weekly Tai Chi group. She was also an avid bowler and enjoyed her morning leagues at Homestead Bowl in Cupertino.

Ella was a present and selfless grandmother to her two granddaughters, Kristen and Katie. She watched a young Kristen in the evenings while Joy and her husband, Chris, attended night school to finish their degrees. In her retirement, she helped with school pick up, shuttling the girls to their activities, and importantly, provided family dinners throughout the week.

Many people have shared what they remember about Ella, or Mrs. Lee. Her kindness is a constant theme. Her acts of service are another. We will miss her smile, unsolicited advice, and chow mein that was both crispy and saucy. She was so loved by her close family, nieces and nephews, and all the friends that became family in her 95 years.

Ella was predeceased by her younger sister Jeanie, parents, husband, and her older brothers, Calvin and Garfield Lee. She is survived by her daughter Joy (and husband Chris Robinson) of San Jose. Ella leaves behind her two granddaughters: Kristen (and husband Jason Warren) of Gilroy and Katie (and husband Cameron Prescott) of San Jose; and her 5 great-grandchildren: Talan, Tanner, Trace, Quinn, and Reed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to:

CHINESE AMERICAN WOMEN'S CLUB

CAWC

PO BOX 5091

SAN JOSE, CA 95150

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park - The Chapel of Roses. 300 Curtner Ave, San Jose, CA 95125.