Emma Wong Mar

Emma Wong Mar passed away in her home in Oakland, California after a brief illness, shortly after her 89th birthday. Emma was an outspoken political activist and socialist for most of her adult life. She remained interested and engaged in politics and current affairs up until the end of her life. Emma was born to Chinese immigrant parents in New York City on September 7, 1926. Her parents worked hard and struggled to support Emma and her six sisters during the Great Depression. Emma graduated from Hunter College in New York and spent several years working as a medical technologist at Sutter Hospital in Sacramento and Planned Parenthood in Oakland. She married Henry Y. Mar in 1952 and had two children. Emma was an early opponent of the Vietnam War and could be seen carrying picket signs at countless protest demonstrations in the early 60's. She later joined the Peace and Freedom Party and ran as its vice-presidential candidate in 1984 with feminist activist Sonia Johnson heading the ticket. Emma continued her anti-war and pro-labor activism well into the late 90's and mid-2000's. In 2001, Emma was honored with a "Union Heroine" award by the Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees union fighting on behalf of low-wage workers in Berkeley (she was 75 years old at that time!). Emma was warm-hearted and generous in spirit and a very open and compassionate person. She was outgoing, had a great sense of humor, and made friends easily. She was beloved by her immediate family and will be very much missed. She is survived by her husband Henry, their two children JoAnn and Craig, her three sisters Estelle, Mabel, and Gloria, and many nieces and nephews. There will be a celebration of her life at the Chapel Of The Chimes in Oakland. This is a private service for friends and family.