Helen Y. Louie's Obituary
January 6, 1926-January 18, 2019\r\n\r\nOn January 18, 2019, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend to all, peacefully passed away at home at the age of 93 years young. Helen was born in Canton (now known as Guangzhou), China. At the tender age of seven years, her family - father Gene, mother Marshee, and younger brother Arnold - left her in the care of relatives to move to the United States - with promises to bring her over at a "later" date. That later date became 1939 during the Sino-Japanese War and the beginning of World War II. At the age of 13 years, she began a solo journey from Hong Kong to the United States, not speaking a word of English and eventually arriving in Seattle, Washington where she was held in the Immigration Office for ten days until her father was able to obtain her release, whereupon Helen and her father traveled by train to Phoenix, Arizona, where the Ong family had a grocery business.\r\n\r\nThrough their respective fathers, Helen and Harry Louie met because the fathers "thought it would be a good idea." It was such a good idea that on March 5, 1950, Helen and Harry were married in Phoenix, Arizona. The newlyweds joined the Louie family in Salt Lake City, moving into the "family house" with Harry's father and his brothers and sisters - Will, May, Jean, Bob, Mack, Ed, Grant and Mary. In February 1951, the first of their children arrived - Steven - and from that date through the next ten years, the family expanded to include Nancy, Eugene, Patty, Jeffrey, Stuart, Bradley and Marjean. For over four decades, Helen worked tirelessly at the Louie family restaurant, the King Joy Café, at both locations - 36 East Second South and then 264 South Main Street.\r\n\r\nA true Renaissance woman, Helen loved to travel and ventured throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as Europe, Asia and South America. Never one to have idle hands, Helen kept busy with several hobbies - gardening, knitting, crocheting and her handiwork will live on for years as a reminder of a wonderfully generous and warm woman. Helen also was one of the most rabid Utah football fans in existence and would cheerfully don her crimson attire, take her handwarmers and head to the stadium to cheer the Utes - doing so until she was in her late-80's.\r\n\r\nHelen died peacefully at the family house on January 18, 2019. She lived a glorious 93 years and leaves behind a legacy of many happy memories of joyous occasions, love, and laughter. She instilled in her children the value of education, hard work, honesty and integrity. She led by example, such as during her successful battle against breast cancer, and showed us that a positive and optimistic attitude will get you through the most difficult of times.\r\n\r\nHelen is survived by her eight children - Steven (Rae), Nancy (Raymond), Eugene (Janet), Patricia, Jeffrey (Tamra), Stuart, Bradley (Marsha) and Marjean; grandchildren, Stephanie and Jay Hola, Erin and Phil Malot, Jordan Louie, Michael Yep, Lauren, Tyler, Morgan, Kai Ming, Alec, Jennifer and Kimberly Louie; and great-grandchildren, Mika and Kaison Louie, Koji, Chloé and Mikaela Malot, Nala Sebatane, Aaliyah and Rose Hola and Lucy Garcia; sisters-in-law Louise Ong, Jean Louie, Mary Kloer, Maydel Louie and Lynn Louie and brother-in-law Will Louie - plus numerous nieces and nephews. Helen was pre-deceased by her parents, husband and brother.Donations in Helen's memory may be made to the: University of Utah Crimson Club Football Program (www.crimsonclub.utah.edu); American Heart Association (www.donatenow.heart.org); or the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (www.nbcf.org/donate).\r\n\r\nFriends may call on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. (visitation one-hour prior at 10:00 a.m.) at Neil O'Donnell & Sons Mortuary, 372 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah. Interment, Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 1342 East 500 South.\r\n\r\n
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