Angie Hei-Cheng Lau
January 25, 1938 - June 21, 2019
Ladera Ranch CA
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Angie Hei-Cheng Lau
January 25, 1938 - June 21, 2019
Ladera Ranch CA
Obituary
Angie H. Lau, 81, passed away at home in Ladera Ranch, California on the 21st of June 2019.
Angie was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ming-En Cheng in Fuzhou, Fujian, China in 1938. Her family moved to Hong Kong to escape the Japanese invasion of China when she was a baby. Following Hong Kong’s capitulation to the Japanese, the family returned to Fuzhou. She was educated at Do-Seuk Girls School (founded in the 19thcentury by Anglican missionaries) and the Affiliated High School of the Fujian Normal University. Thereafter, she attended Peking University from 1956-1963, completing a six-year degree in Biology. At Peking University, she met Robert Lau, a fellow student in the Biology Department. After graduating from university Angie and Robert both worked as research scientists at the Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology, Academia Sinica (The Chinese Academy of Sciences). They were married in 1963 in Shanghai, and welcomed a son and a daughter a few years later.
In 1978 Angie immigrated to Hong Kong with her two children, where they joined Robert, who had immigrated there a couple of years earlier. In 1980 the family immigrated to the United States, settling in Orange County, California. They initially lived in Orange for a year, then in Huntington Beach for seven years, before moving to south Orange County, where Angie and Robert lived in Laguna Niguel for nearly 30 years. In the early 1980s Angie worked at Printronix, which manufactured industrial printers. In the late 1980s to early 1990s she conducted research in the Biology Department of the University of California, Irvine.
In addition to her love for science, Angie enjoyed literature, art and music. She had been an accomplished Chinese calligrapher since childhood; in retirement she continued to practice calligraphy and studied Chinese brush painting. She took great pleasure in reading, watching films, listening to classical music and attending concerts. In addition, she was fond of travelling and learning about different cultures.
Angie was always generous to her extended family, friends, and strangers alike. She helped many in need throughout her life and often welcomed newcomers and visitors to her home. Most of all, she devoted herself to her family, particularly to raising her children and giving them a nurturing and stable home despite the challenges of having to acclimatize to the cultural and language differences in her adopted homeland. Her love and devotion provided the security and example that enabled her children to thrive and grow into confident and compassionate adults.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years Robert; her son David (Margaret Connerty) Lau, her daughter Susan (John) von Wentzel; grandchildren Maximillian and Clare Lau, Christoph, Sophie and Matthew von Wentzel; sister Zheng Xiao, brothers Zheng Shang and Zheng Hui, four nephews, along with her extended family; and numerous lifelong friends. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She will be missed greatly by all who knew her.
Donations may be made in Angie’s name to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America:
https://secure.lcfamerica.org/np/clients/lcfamerica/donation.jsp?_ga=2.142108146.15291968.1562625886-1335289757.1562625886
Funeral Service
- Date & Time: July 13, 2019 (10:00 AM)
- Venue: O'Connor Mortuary
- Location: 25301 Alicia Parkway Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (949) 581-4300
Reception
- Date & Time: July 13, 2019 (11:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
- Venue: O'Connor Mortuary
- Location: 25301 Alicia Parkway Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (949) 581-4300
No Charities & Donations
9 responses to Angie Hei-Cheng Lau
Allison Heo says:
July 2, 2019
Although I had the privilege of seeing Susan’s mother only a few times, I feel as if I have known her all my life. I will always remember the great warmth with which she welcomed me when I visited Susan at her OC home. How familiar, generous and loving she came across to me.
Susan and I would always ask after each of our sets of parents, extending to them the concern we had for our own. So, when I heard that Susan’s mother had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, I was devastated. My sister had passed from the same, and I feared for her. I didn’t want her to suffer. She had already weathered through so much in her life, from communism to multiple immigrations to sacrificial parenting (she worried so for Susan when she was consulting in Hong Kong and China).
I am deeply saddened that treatment failed to extend her life, but I am glad that she has been spared further pain by her passing. I pray that I will see her again in heaven. I owe her a debt of gratitude for raising such a fine daughter who is a lifelong friend and sister to me. Thank you, Mother, for your gift of Susan. God bless you for all eternity.
Emily&Edward Jin Family says:
July 2, 2019
柳师母，一路走好！
Franz and Shyun-Shyun Hoffmann-Tsay says:
July 3, 2019
When Angie joined our Plant Physiology laboratory at the University of California, Irvine, our research group was very fortunate to add such a smart, multi-talented, enthusiastic, patient, and ever-so-kind colleague to the team. After she left our lab, we remained friends – seeing each other too little but never losing contact through almost 30 years of New Year cards and letters. Her wedding gift to us, a smartly chosen high-tech kitchen item (made in my German hometown), accompanied us for many years. When it had to be replaced, we could not find the same brand again and, still today, we regularly condemn the replacement item as “not as good as Angie’s gift”. Angie, we miss you and we will come to say farewell.
Franz and Shyun-Shyun-Shyun Hoffmann-Tsay
Susan von Wentzel says:
July 3, 2019
Dear Dr Hoffmann and Shyun-Shyun,
On behalf of my father and my brother, we thank you for your kind words. The years in your lab were some of the happiest times for my mother. We look forward to seeing you on the 13th.
Warmest regards,
Susan
刘涤，梅运滇 says:
July 8, 2019
“沉痛悼念郑晞女士
一位高雅，富有爱心，有才能的女科学家。
一路走好!愿天堂再也没有病痛。”
Annie & Stephen says:
July 12, 2019
“My fondest memory of 細舅母 was at our joint family reunion in LA & Las Vegas n 2000 when we celebrated my father’s birthday & Patricia’s graduation. My parents, brothers & family, flew from Hong Kong, Patricia’s 婆婆， 姨媽 from North America while my family flew from Toronto to join the festivities.
細舅母 Was instrumental in getting a fantastic hotel rate for the whole clan at the Paris. In her quiet & unassuming way she was very pleased with her find & mostly to see all of us together.
May the loving memories of 細舅母 fill your thoughts during your time of sorrow and forever hold in your hearts.
On behalf of the Wong family, with our deepest sympathy, we wish your family peace and comfort at this difficult time”
Annie & Stephen leung says:
July 12, 2019
“My fondest memory of 細舅母 was at our family reunion in La & Las Vegas in 2000 when we celebrated our father’s birthday & Patricia’s graduation. My parents, brothers & family Patricia’s 婆婆, 姨媽 flew from North America while my family flew from Toronto to join in the festivities.
細舅母 Was p instrumental in getting a fantastic hotel rate for the whole clan at the Paris hotel. In her quiet unassuming way she was very pleased with the find & mostly to see all of us together.
May the loving memories of 細舅母 fill your thoughts during your time of sorrow and forever hold in your hearts.
On behalf of the Wong family, with our deepest sympathy, we wish your family peace & forever stay in your hearts. We shall miss her dearly.”