Wai Sheung Fung

Wai Sheung Fung, age 88, of Saint Louis, Missouri passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, while under the compassionate care of hospice. Wai was born October 22, 1937 to Ru Bao Fung and Liu Huan Ning in Guanghai Town, Taishan City, Guangdong Province, China.

For much of her life in China, Wai was an avid farmer. Alongside her husband, they grew crops and raised animals to provide for their family. Her primary concern was taking care of her two young children. Wai labored endlessly to make ends meet, trying her best to make sure that her children would grow out of the poverty she had known her entire adult life. In addition to farming, Wai was an immensely skilled seamstress and specialized in knitting. With her sewing machine, she created a variety of clothing for herself and her family including pants, shirts, and the like, ensuring that her loved ones would always have clothes to wear.

Wai emigrated from China to the United States with her husband and children in 1984 with dreams of giving her family an opportunity at a better and more fulfilling life. Soon, she transitioned to working in the restaurant industry and found herself employed at her younger brother’s restaurant in Saint Louis. Though she was in a new country and in a different line of work, her work ethic remained unchanged - she was committed to providing as much as she could for her family as she worked tirelessly long days and nights like she did in China. Something that was different in the United States, however, was that she was blessed with six grandchildren, whom she loved dearly and took care of like they were her own. Helping raise six grandchildren was no easy feat, but like she had done countless times before, she persevered and did her best.

After retiring from working in restaurants and helping see her grandchildren past their teenage years, Wai spent the majority of her time enjoying a much simpler and relaxing life. Her favorite activities included going on shopping trips and long walks. She remained active in her community and turned many of her neighbors into friends, with whom she would spend many pleasant evenings. She also loved making zongzi, traditional Chinese sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, as a treat for her friends and family whenever she had the time and energy. It wasn’t a surprise that even in the latter years of her life, she remained focused on giving back to her loved ones; that was the type of person she always was at her core - someone who was unselfish, kind, and always looking after others.

Wai is survived by her two children: Su Ling (Vun Thou) Wong and Jing Wei (Rui Ping) Chen; six grandchildren: Stephen (Alison) Chen, Jennifer Chen, Leslie Wong, Lucinda Chen, Kevin Wong, and Maxwell Wong; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her devoted husband of 64 years Zhong Xian Chen; her parents Ru Bao Fung and Liu Huan Ning, and her three siblings.

A funeral service for Wai will be held Tuesday, June 9, 2026 from 9:30 AM to 11:30AM at Kriegshauser Mortuary-West Chapel, 9450 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63132, with committal service following at Bellerive Gardens Cemetery, 740 Mason Road, Creve Coeur, MO 63141.