Lai Shou Woo
September 19, 1925 - April 21, 2021
Obituary
Lai Shou Woo, 95, returned to the Lord to whom she provided many years of faithful service, in the early hours of April 21, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Residence, Seattle. Born September 19, 1925 in a village outside Guangzhou (Canton) China, she was the daughter of Lai Deng and Li-Zhang Wong. Lai married On Lung Woo and immigrated with him to the United States in 1948. After residing in San Francisco, Lai and On moved to Seattle. She was a loving mother and raised 6 children. As a faithful and active member of the Chinese Baptist Church, she took part in the church’s ministry for nursing homes and was involved in the funding and building of a church in China.
Lai and On operated a grocery store in West Seattle for many years. She also worked as a seamstress/power machine operator. Lai enjoyed cooking many Chinese dishes and dim sum varieties. Her hobbies included reading her Bible, gardening, exercise, knitting, and helping to raise several grandchildren. Lai and On both adapted and came to love their new country. Both Lai and On believed in hard work and the American dream. On served in World War II and became a naturalized citizen. Lai believed in family and was determined to reunite with her siblings. Lai studied English with a tutor and successfully became a naturalized citizen in 1964. That was a proud day for Lai. Then she arranged for her brother Soon Tung Wong to immigrate from Hong Kong. Years later, she arranged for her sister, Lai Shiang Wong, husband, and 6 children to immigrate from China.
Lai was preceded in death by her husband, brother and parents. She is survived by her sister and many nieces and nephews, all of Seattle, and other extended family. Also surviving Lai are her 6 children, Frances Woo (Gary Hoppe) of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; George Woo (Barbara) of Kent; Lucy Beppu (Steve) of Woodinville; Lillian Woo Adams of Kent; Peter Woo of Federal Way; and Betty Woo Johnson of Gig Harbor. She is survived by 15 grandchildren, William, Kristina, and Charles Hoppe of New York City; Jennifer Zavala of La Quinta, California; Hilari Britt and Karli Holman, both of Seattle ; Lincoln Beppu of Seattle; Aaron Beppu of San Francisco; Keegan Dougherty of Boise, Idaho; Haley Adams of Des Moines, Iowa; Shanna Ganem of Mill Creek; and Michael Woo of Federal Way; Joshua Johnson of Puyallup; Rebekah Johnson of Federal Way; and Sarah Villacorta of Gig Harbor. Lai is also survived by 15 great grandchildren.
Click this link to view additional details about Lai’s Services, including any available live streams: https://my.gather.app/remember/lai-woo