Rebecca Lee Lam

Rebecca Lee (Van Duyse) Lam, 68, of Chandler, AZ, was called Home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. She passed peacefully at Hospice of the Valley Lund Home in Gilbert, AZ, with her family by her side.
Rebecca was born September 25, 1956, in Cordele, GA to Francis D. "Fritz" Van Duyse and Dorothy Marie (Walden) Van Duyse. She graduated from Southwest High School in Green Bay and went on to earn her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay (UWGB) and Arizona State University (ASU), respectively.
Early in life, Rebecca enjoyed learning dance routines taught by her aunt Mary Jane and then later in high school performing on the Packer field as a Golden Girl cheerleader. She also enjoyed traveling to new places and before college worked in Italy as a nanny and then, after becoming fluent in Italian, as an English/Italian interpreter. After returning to the states, Rebecca earned a bachelor's degree from UWGB, and a master's degree from Arizona State University.
While completing her undergraduate degree at UWGB, she met graduate student Lap-Pun Thomas Lam, and they wed shortly after completing their studies. Thomas was Rebecca's true love, and this never changed throughout their 36-year marriage. They moved to Chandler, AZ where Rebecca completed a master's degree in teaching and then went on to teach kinder garden through middle school students.
She loved her job as a teacher, and she recognized and supported the potential in each of her students. Rebecca's students were happy and excited to have "Mrs. Lam" as their teacher and when former students ran into Rebecca, they were eager to let her know the positive impact she had on them.
Together with Thomas, Rebecca had two daughters, Amy and Julie, and nothing was more important to her than being a mom. Rebecca loved caring for the girls at home as well as family trips to destinations such as Yellowstone and Disneyland and visiting Thomas' relatives for celebrations in Hong Kong and Vancouver.
Rebecca was diagnosed with MS more than 25 years ago and, after the initial remission, suffered from this progressive disease for the last several years of her life. However, she was happy the last 7 months of her life after returning home from a post-acute facility and to the care of Thomas and her wonderful CNA, Desiree.
Rebecca was a sweet and gentle soul, accepting and interested in everyone she met. She was empathetic and patient, and everyone that knew her described her as fun, loving, and kind.
Rebecca will be missed by her husband, Lap-Pun Thomas Lam; daughters, Amy and Julie Lam; siblings, Susan (Eugene) Heimbecher, Sarah Van Duyse, and Frank (Veronica) Van Duyse; nephews, Michael (Kayla) Van Duyse, Matthew Van Duyse and Eric Van Duyse; other relatives; and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; many aunts and uncles; and other relatives.
Rebecca's life will be honored with a memorial service held at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2025 at Huehns Funeral Home, 1414 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 with Dcn. Mark Bortle officiating. Rebecca will be laid to rest in St. Joseph Cemetery in the Town of Sevastopol.
Visitation for family and friends will be held after 3:00 p.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Rebecca to The Salvation Army.
Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Rebecca may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.
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