Joanne Y. Lau

Joanne Y. Lau was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed her to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, she possessed a tough-minded, "take charge" attitude. She had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and she was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Joanne always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Joanne was an individual who enjoyed life's challenges.

       Her parents were Lum Ho and Wai Lin. Joanne was born and raised in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Always able to express herself well, Joanne possessed strong interpersonal skills. She was optimistic in her outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in her communication. Armed with a great wit, Joanne was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

      Blessed with a balanced attitude, Joanne was able to relate well with others. Her occasional role as family mediator gave her the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Joanne was raised with three siblings. Joanne had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

      As a young child, Joanne showed her creative ability in many ways. She was outgoing and animated. Joanne enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. She took part in badminton. In her spare time she liked to play badminton, travel, and take pictures.

      Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Joanne was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. Her curious nature was spurred by her ability to maximize her personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. She was good with facts and had an excellent memory. She graduated from Christian Chinese High School in 1974. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was Chinese History.

      In June of 1981, Joanne exchanged wedding vows with Jimmy Moon Lau at the Hong Kong City Hall in Hong Kong. Joanne was attentive to Jimmy's feelings, and she charmed Jimmy and others with her gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Joanne was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

      Very much like a kid herself, Joanne identified with the inquisitive and creative side of her children's personalities. She was able to direct her energy and spontaneity towards helping her children acquire added common sense skills. Joanne was blessed with two daughters, Irene and Rosanne.

      Joanne was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around her. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Joanne's strengths included being able to think on her feet. She could be a leader who sought impact for her decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Joanne was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. She was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Joanne could multi-task, and she was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing her to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in her work environment. Her primary occupation was as a semiconductor supervisor. She was employed for 10 years by Metelics.

      Joanne enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. She had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that she did. She put this creativity toward all of her pastimes. Her favorite pursuits were playing mahjong with friends, reading the newspapers, watching chinese dramas, and caring for the family. She was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

      Because she liked to take risks, Joanne was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. She was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. In high school, Joanne played badminton.

      Joanne was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made her a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which she belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, Joanne worked steadily to meet any organization's goals. Throughout her later years, Joanne was an active member of the Berryessa Chinese School and Contact Cares Telephone Counseling.

      Joanne was a generous woman who prized that same quality in others. So it's little wonder that she was so active and giving in her community. Joanne was a member of several community groups, including serving on committees for the Board of Berryessa Chinese School. Politically, Joanne was a supporter of the Democratic Party. She participated in yearly voting and supported Hilary Clinton, who she thought was a great role model for the Democratic Party.

      Travel and vacations were experiences that Joanne truly enjoyed. She preferred to seek out excitement wherever she went and she was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of "live and let live." She was willing to leave her plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included Hawaii, a one month tour in Europe, and visiting family in Hong Kong.

      Joanne was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. Two of Joanne's favorites were her Tabby cats, Orange Kitty and Tigerlily.

      When Joanne's retirement finally came in 1999, she was well prepared. She used logical analysis of her retirement options in order to ensure her retirement would be fulfilling. Still, she was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed.

      Joanne passed away on November 24, 2009 at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California. She proudly fought 3 battles against cancer. She is survived by her husband, Jimmy; and her two daughters, Irene and Rosanne. Services were held at Oak Hill Funeral Home in the Drawing Room Chapel.

      Joanne was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, she relied on her senses to increase her involvement and awareness of others. She was always able to provide amusing repartee to her friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Joanne had a theme song written about her, it might well have been "Don't Worry, Be Happy." She enjoyed her life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Joanne Y. Lau.