Sio Zea Wong

Sio Zea Wong
May 6, 1928 - December 28, 2024
Sio Zea Wong (nee San), known by many as "Suzy" died on Saturday, December 28 in the evening surrounded by family.
Sio Zea was born on May 6, 1928 in a poor rural part of China. At an early age, she was adopted into the Shoun Foun family that formed a Chinese acrobatic troupe later known as the Ming Sing Stars. Practicing many hours each day under disciplined training, wearing performance costumes and living in tents were the early lives of the four adopted sisters Sio Chu (Little Pearl), Sio Lien (Little Lotus), Sio Zea (Little Chrysoprase) and Sio Yu (Little Jade). They traveled through Europe during the 1930's and 1940's performing contortions, acrobatics and plate spinning in famous venues. In 1948 Ringling Brothers Circus signed the Ming Sing Stars Troupe and they arrived in America from Paris aboard the SS Washington Cruise ship. While performing in America, they met many young stars including Burt Lancaster, Mickey Rooney, Ann Blythe and Tony Curtis. Although not formally educated, she and her siblings spoke several languages including Chinese, German, French, Czechoslovakian and later English.
Shortly after arriving in America, Sio Zea met her future husband, Koa Nie Wong and spent the next 50 years together raising 5 children and 9 grandchildren in Manhattan and then the Bronx, NY. To make ends meet and help support their growing family, Sio Zea took odd jobs such as stringing beads and piecemeal sewing. They saved enough money to move from a small apartment in Manhattan to a single family house in the Bronx (961 E 228th Street) and then to a 2 family house at 2760 Matthews Ave., also in the Bronx. As she became more fluent in English, and when her youngest child was about 5, she began working in White Castle as a waitress/cook where she was given the nickname of "Suzy". She kept a cheat sheet in her pocket listing the quantity and cost of hamburgers so she would be able to calculate the amount due from the customers quickly. Later years she worked as a domestic, cleaning apartments for doctors and TV executives in Manhattan. Amazingly, she passed the Driver's License written and road test so her family could drive a car instead of using the NYC subways.
She was passionate about sewing. She made everything from underwear to business suits. We don't recall when she purchased any clothing for herself. She was a craftsman with Chinese silk dresses and for her eldest daughter's wedding made over 7 dresses for her daughters and nieces from a single handmade pattern. She was an avid baker and is remembered for her famous steamed buns and fried dumplings. In addition to sewing and baking, she enjoyed doing home repair. Sewing was her passion but her house was her love. Her son in law - Fergie recalls her climbing a ladder carrying shingles to the top of the roof when he met his future in-laws at their house for the first time. There was no home repair she couldn't perform, and if there was, she learned how to do it for next time. Also worth mentioning was the time she jump started her daughter's friend's car which had a dead battery while parked in front of her house. There was very little she couldn't tackle.
Her physical strength matched her emotional strength. Raising 5 first generation Chinese children in a predominantly Jewish/Italian neighborhood took much strength and courage. She assimilated quickly by learning the language and adapting to the culture/customs popular in America. Always kind and soft spoken, but when she did speak, it was usually words of wisdom. It was a rare occasion for her to speak ill of someone. She was a good friend and always willing to lend a hand, never asking or expecting anything in return.
Sio Zea is survived by her 5 children and their families:
Peter and Barbara Wong, Michael and Sandy Wong, Sophia and Michael Jr, Peter Wong Jr
Catherine and Daniel Lam, Brian Lam and Vivian Yang, Megan Lam and Jerry Song
Linda and Fergus Forrest, Michelle Forrest
Rosemary Cheng, Justin Cheng, Marisa Cheng
Vera Wong and Cardwell Vaughn, Erika and Feroze Khan, Clayton and Haseeb, Brandon Vaughn
Several nieces and nephews
Visitation will be Friday January 3, 2025 from 2-5 PM at the Valley Memorial Funeral Home 1012 Valley Road., Gillette, NJ. Interment will be Saturday January 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM at the Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please make online gifts in memory of Mrs.Sio Zea Wong, to the Dementia Society of America
www.DementiaSociety.org/donate
For more information and online condolences visit valleymemorialfuneralhome.net