SIOK-UAN TAN LEE

SIOK-UAN TAN LEE SOUTH BURLINGTON - Siok-Uan Tan Lee, 104, passed away peacefully at her grandson's home in South Burlington, Aug. 13, 2010, her grandson, Christopher K. Tan and his wife, Cindy A. Tan, at her bedside. She was born in Suzhou, China, Aug. 3, 1907, the daughter of Sio-Tang Lee and Ching-Foo Sang. Siok-Uan Tan Lee was married to the late Chinese Nationalist hero, Tan Qingji, who was credited with the small revolution which took place 11 days prior to the final battle that overthrew the Qing Dynasty of China in 1911. Known to the family as Ama, which is Chinese for grandmother, Siok-Uan came to the United States in 1963. In 1992, she studied for the naturalization exam, passed the test, and became a U.S. citizen. Though Ama had lived a privileged life with homes in Japan, the Philippines and Hong Kong, she left that behind to care for the children of her son, James S. B. Tan and his wife, Barbara. She moved with the family to Erie, Pa. and remained there for 10 years. She spent time with her daughter's family in Toronto, Canada and then lived for 20 years in Los Angeles near her son, CheBin Tan and her grandson Derek's family. In 2008, she moved to South Burlington to live with her grandson Christopher and his family, where she enjoyed spending time with her great-grandchildren, Xander and Lyssa. Siok-Uan grew up in a Chinese middle class family during a time when foot binding and no schooling were common for female children, yet her mother couldn't bear to bind her feet and her father sent her to school. She married into wealth and status, yet saw her husband die and lost her home in the Philippines during WWII to the Japanese. She spoke Mandarin, Fujian, Cantonese, Japanese and the language of the Philippines, Tagalog, and she patiently taught her daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren Chinese. Siok-Uan is survived by her daughter, Se-Eng Lim and her grandsons, Milton Lim, Winston Lim, Ericton Lim and their wives; and granddaughter, Abigail Hossu and her husband of Toronto, Canada; her son, Che-Bin Tan and his wife, Esther and her grandson, Derek and his wife of Laguna Woods, Calif.; her grandsons, Christopher K. Tan of South Burlington, and Craig K. Tan of Ashburn, Va. and their wives; her granddaughter, Leslie M. Tan of Kent, Ohio and her husband. She is also survived by 15 great- grandchildren; as well as family in the Philippines and Australia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Qingji Tan and her son, James Se-Bin Tan, of Meadville, Pa. If friends and family wish make a donation in SiokUan's memory, her son James has a memorial scholarship fund at Edinboro University. Please contact Marilyn Goellner at 814-732-1778, or mgoellner @edinboro.edu. Calling hours are Friday Aug. 20, 2010 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ready Funeral Home South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington. A funeral service will be held Saturday Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. To send online condolences to the family please visit www.readyfuneral.com