Obituary

Victoria M. “Vickie” Hsiung
(1940-2025)

A Life Well Lived With Energy, Music, and “No Fun Getting Old”

Victoria M. “Vickie” Hsiung (née Hsu), 84, of Orange County, passed away peacefully at 11:12 pm on March 19, 2025. Born in Taiwan on May 27, 1940, to Kungming Hsu and Wuhsia Yu, Vickie lived a life full of remarkable energy, generosity, and unmistakable humor that left an impression on everyone she met.

As the only female in her engineering class in Taiwan, Vickie broke barriers early in life, earning bachelor’s degrees both in Taiwan and the US. She later settled in Orange County, where she made her home for 55 years and became known for her boundless energy and outgoing nature.

Vickie never met a stranger – just someone she hadn’t yet told about her four beloved grandsons. Her distinctive sayings became legendary among family and friends: “You high tech, I’m low tech,” she would declare with a laugh. When faced with life’s frustrations, her go-to phrase was “I didn’t give a s**t” – wisdom that served her well into her 80s. And who could forget her signature “Hiyah!” accompanied by a karate chop motion?

Her self-deprecating humor was part of her charm: “Thought I was smart, ended up stupid” and “Crouching tiger, slouching dragon” (her humorous twist on the famous film title) kept everyone around her smiling. When pointing out life’s challenges, she’d sigh and say, “Easier said than done” or “No fun getting old” – though she certainly made growing older look like an adventure. And who could forget her playful declaration of “I’m so ego!” whenever she caught herself being a bit boastful?

Vickie’s love of music, especially classical, was a cornerstone of her life. She played piano and generously shared her passion through season passes to the Pacific Symphony and South Coast Repertory, creating lasting memories with her grandchildren and their families over many years.

Her generosity extended far beyond her family – Vickie was instrumental in bringing many of her relatives to the United States, and never hesitated to loan out her wedding dress, open her home to those in need, or provide financial support to friends and family. She devoted countless hours volunteering at the local senior center, where her boundless energy and ability to talk to anyone made her an invaluable community member. She also contributed significantly to building the center by purchasing two of the stepping stone blocks. Between volunteer sessions, you’d likely find her deeply focused on her beloved Sudoku puzzles or enjoying her favorite classic TV shows – Gunsmoke, Murder She Wrote, Wagon Train, Adam 12, and Columbo were among her treasured programs. And no TV watching session was complete without her favorite See’s chocolates nearby.

Vickie was preceded in death by her husband, Bryan Hsiung, who passed in 2012. Her remarkable strength and resilience throughout life’s challenges helped teach her daughter to be strong and resilient as well. She is survived by her daughter Diane Chang and son-in-law Forrest Chang, as well as her four grandsons, Christopher, Colin, Cooper, and Curtis, who were the pride and joy of her life “in the whole wide world” (as she would say).

Vickie’s dedication to her grandsons was unwavering. She attended “Mommy and Me” classes with Bryan and continued this tradition even after his passing. Her grandsons fondly remember her chaperoning parties and field trips at their Montessori school, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

For those who knew Vickie, we invite you to remember her with a smile, perhaps while attempting a Sudoku puzzle or enjoying classical music. After all, as Vickie might tell us with a mischievous grin, she was “a bad girl, need spanking” – but in truth, she was an extraordinary woman who lived life on her own terms and filled our world with joy, wisdom, and unforgettable one-liners.