Chau Ng

She is survived by her son Dave (Sharon) Ho, and preceded in death by her daughter and son-in-law Sau Ying (Bing) Chin. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Christopher (Jerry) Ho, Jonathan (Kerry) Ho, Veda (Jonathan) Stevens, Leslie (Paul) Farr, Ashley (Ziggy) Hamielec, and Kimberly (Vincent) Ing. She also leaves behind her beloved great-grandchildren Bentley, Gemma, Daxton, Aeriliyah, Larkin, Zoe, Christian, and Sadie.

Chau was born in the Hoiping District in Guangdong, China on August 3, 1928. After the passing of her husband in the early 1950’s, she bravely moved to Hong Kong with her young son and infant daughter in tow. As a single mother, Chau raised her two children on the meager salary of a seamstress. When her daughter eventually became a citizen of the United States of America, she petitioned for Chau and her brother to join her. Upon arrival in the United States, Chau worked as a cook in Chicago for a few years before settling in Lexington, Kentucky to help her son at his restaurants Wing’s Teahouse and Ho-Ho Chinese Express.

Chau was a master in the kitchen. She was fondly called “Mama” by many patrons, and her dishes were often highly sought after. When she wasn’t cooking for patrons, she reveled in making her traditional Chinese dishes for her grandkids. At home, she enjoyed making clothes for herself and her grandchildren. She would travel to Chicago to visit her daughter and grand-daughters multiple times a year. Chau would spend mornings with a hot cup of coffee and a Chinese newspaper to catch up on the latest world news.

Chau lived a simple, but very fruitful life. Even though Chau had endured some extreme hardships, she was an extremely grateful woman, as seen by her daily prayers and offerings at her altar. Her independence, hard work, and determination served as a beacon for many. Her boisterous, resonating voice reflected her strength of character, and her quiet whispers brought a comforting calmness to those that needed to hear her wise words. Chau leaves a legacy of love, resilience, and strength. She will be deeply missed.

A visitation is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., to be immediately followed by a service at 7:00 p.m. on July 5, 2021. A private burial will be held at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Stickney, IL.