Fong Yip Chao

Fong Yip Chao, 74, a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully on March 27, 2026, after a long illness.

Fong was born on May 22, 1952, in Norfolk, VA, to parents Quong Sang Yip and Wong Gene Tide.

A lifelong resident of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA, Fong graduated from Maury High School and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Old Dominion University. Fong built a career as a government analyst with the Department of the Navy.

Fong will be remembered for her smile, kindness, and unforgettable laugh. She loved creating memories with family and friends, bringing warmth and joy to everyone around her. In her retirement years, she especially enjoyed travelling to Australia and being a proud and loving grandmother.

Above all, Fong was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, friend and neighbor whose presence will be deeply missed.

Fong is survived by her husband, Gene Chao; sisters, Gar Yip and Mary Wong; her children, Emily Canning, Julia Stephenson, and Matthew Chao; and her seven grandchildren: Finlay, Elle, Addison, Wesley, Hayden, Charlotte, and newborn Eliza Fong Chao.