Siok Bee Sio

Siok Bee Ong Sio

18 May 1930 –19 February 2026

Siok Bee Ong Sio was blessed with a long life full of her own adventures. She lived in three countries, raised her family, and put to good use her entrepreneurial acumen.

Born in Xiamen, China, on 18 May 1930 to Arsenio Ong and Ting Lang, she and her family relocated to the Philippines when she was nine years old. She spent the next 54 years there before moving to California in 1993.

She met Vicente Sio through the traditional kaysiao (matchmaking). They were married on 16 September 1951. It was a perfect match!

While Papa engaged in business, Mama was the ultimate homemaker-wife, mother, teacher, "doctor," and more! She made sure the girls learned the rigors of cooking. A wise investment indeed as the rudiments of homemaking were established!

As a child, she had dreamed of becoming a doctor. But, because of a late start in her education, this dream fell through. As a young adult then, she was "threatened" by Grandma Lang to settle down or "miss the boat." Dutifully she followed. To her dismay, married girls were then not allowed in secondary school!

Her dream was fulfilled in her children. Jimmy, with a PhD in Cell Biology, became an internist in Bakersfield. Juliet (Aguilar) is a pediatrician-gastroenterologist, now an emeritus professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM). Susie acquired her PhD in Pharmacology in Kobe, Japan, and taught pharmacology at the UPCM until her retirement.

Mama's dream has been passed on to the next generation in Kimberly Houck Patel (Helen's daughter), a pediatric neurologist-epileptologist based in Houston. Norman Houck (Helen's son) had a career in the biopharma industry. Now taking up undergraduate medical studies in Sydney, Australia, is Isaac (Juliet's son).

Mama supported the educational aspirations of all her children, even those not medically inclined. Helen, a chemist by training, is a successful businesswoman in Bakersfield, providing homes for adults with developmental disabilities. Shirley is an accountant in a prominent snack food company in the Philippines. Howard is a trader at a metals trading company based in New York. Robert is a freelance computer consultant in Toronto.

Despite her limited education, Mama had an innate sense of entrepreneurship. In the 1980s when Papa encountered challenges in the rice mill business in Pangasinan, Mama rushed to his side and helped save the business.

Although her English proficiency was not that of a native speaker, she confidently engaged with people in small conversations. She was a model of sociability.

In the 1970s, Mama came to know the Lord Jesus in a personal way through the witness of Peter Tan Chi, now Senior Pastor of Christ Commission Fellowship. Mama held on to her faith in the Lord, even when her health began to decline.

An epitome of actionable love and commitment, Mama was a great inspiration! As the epitaph of Papa reads, "The influence of a parent lives on for many generations."

Siok Bee is survived by her children Helen (and James Houck), Jimmy, Juliet (and Filomeno Aguilar), Susie, Shirley, Howard (and Kathryn), and Robert (and Dorothy); grandchildren [Norman, Kimberly (and Jaisent Patel), Isabella, Joshua, and Isaac]; and great grandchildren Evaluna Rose Houck, and Adali and Johan Patel]; and her caregivers Tess Lacaden, Lilia Ines, Yvonne Ramirez, Judy Manuel, Franz Amado, and Rosalinda Garo.