Yuan Li

Yuan Li
April 20, 1958 - October 18, 2024
Yuan Li passed away on Friday, October 18th after bravely battling a prolonged illness. She passed at her home in Louisville, KY surrounded by the comforting embrace of her family.
Yuan was born in Shenyang, China on April 20th, 1958. She was the eldest of three siblings, and growing up in China, she was a hard-working, curious, and vibrant individual. Before meeting her husband, Limin Mu, Yuan worked as an office administrator in her hometown and built friendships everywhere she went.
In 1980, she met her loving husband, Limin, marrying him two years later in October 1982. The two had their firstborn son, Tuoyang, in 1986. Afterwards, Yuan moved with Limin and Tuoyang to the U.S. in 1991, initially landing in Boone, NC.
Yuan has since lived in the U.S., calling North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky her home throughout her over three decades in the States. In 1998, Yuan and Limin welcomed their twin daughters, Rebecca and Jessica, completing their beloved family.
During her time in Knoxville, TN, Yuan worked as the owner of a highly popular restaurant, Shono's Japanese Grill, for 12 years. Here, she considered her staff as family, and her customers as close friends. Shono's was a staple establishment for many Knoxvillians, and Yuan was proud to greet her customers with warmth and candor.
She enjoyed hosting parties, keeping up with friends, and cooking delicious meals. Throughout the years, she relished in spending time with her family and grandchildren.
Yuan is preceded in death by her parents, Li Qinggui and Wang Guimei. She is survived by her husband, Limin Mu and their children: Tuoyang Mu and his wife Jiani Liu, Rebecca Mu, and Jessica Mu; her grandchildren: Maya Mu and Miles Mu. She is also survived by her brother, Li Lianjun, and her sister, Li Jia.
Yuan's funeral will be on Wednesday, October 23rd at Ratterman Brothers East Louisville on 12900 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40243. The viewing will be at 1:00 p.m. with the service to follow at 2:00 p.m.

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Shono's Japanese Grill Shono's

Ratterman Brothers East Louisville Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY

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Maya Miles

Ladies and gentlemen,
As I stand here today, I am overwhelmed with memories of my dear wife, Yuan Li. She was a wonderful woman who touched the lives of everyone she met. Although her physical presence is no longer with us, her spirit and love will continue to live on in our hearts forever. I want to thank everyone who came today, whether you're from here, out of state, from Canada, or all the way from China.
Thank you for coming to send my wife on her final journey.
Thank you for being here to celebrate her life with us.
(Limin Mu 2:00 PM Wednesday, October 23, 2024 Louisville, KY)
English translation of the eulogy:
First, I want to thank each and every one of you for coming to bid farewell to Yuan Li.
Ladies and gentlemen, my beloved wife Yuan Li was a wonderful woman- beautiful, gracious, sincere, and warm-hearted. We met, fell in love, and married in Shenyang, China, in the early 1980s. She walked with me through 42 years of life's journey, and looking back, I am filled with emotions that words cannot fully express.
In my heart, my wife was someone who embraced hardships with joy, always positive and standing by my side through thick and thin. She often joked with friends about how our family was once a "family on wheels." In the 1980s, life was tough, and we didn't have a permanent place to live. After our son was born, the three of us often rode a bicycle between both sets of parents' homes. That scene is still vivid in my mind: I would be riding the bike with our little son in front, my wife sitting in the back, and the bike loaded with coal gas canisters, baskets of groceries, office bags, clothes, and all sorts of items. In the bitter cold winters of northeastern China, we would often ride 30 to 40 kilometers in the snow and wind, yet somehow never fell. During those rides, I would often knock on our son's back to make sure he would respond, ensuring that he hadn't frozen in the cold. This is the "family on wheels" that my wife was always so proud of.
Integrity, warmth, generosity, and friendliness were qualities everyone attributed to my wife. These traits shone through during the 12 years she ran Knoxville Japanese Restaurant as a business owner. She treated her employees like family and her customers as friends, and she became known for her honesty, warmth, and exceptional service. Her memory was exceptional; she seemed to remember the face of every customer and could easily chat with them like an old friend. I often saw her greet strangers in public places, and afterward, she would tell me, "They were my customers from years ago."
Yuan Li was a responsible, capable, and energetic woman. Not only did she manage her business with dedication, but she also took meticulous care of our entire family and our young twin daughters, ensuring that our children grew up in a loving, carefree environment. The three children we raised together were her pride and joy, and our lively granddaughter Maya and almost-two-year-old grandson Miles were her constant source of happiness.
Through forty years of ups and downs, we journeyed together from youth to middle age, and from middle age to the beginning of our elder years. We moved from China to America, transforming from a small family of two into a big family filled with children and grandchildren. In those years, we shared many happy memories, beautiful moments, and endless stories worth reminiscing about. We also faced many challenges, including her eight-year battle with cancer. During those eight years, my wife, Yuan Li, fought the illness with incredible strength and resilience, displaying a courage that inspired respect. Her love for life, her optimism, and her unbreakable spirit will always motivate me. Her departure has left me with an overwhelming sense of loss, as if there is a boundless void in my heart. But as much as I grieve, life must go on, those of us who remain must carry her memory forward with courage.
At this point, I'd like to borrow the words of the renowned Chinese writer Yu Hua. He once said:
"When a loved one passes away, it's like you're at school while he goes to the market; you're at home eating while he is in the field working. When you go looking for him, he's just returned home. He is always there, yet you forever pass by each other, never able to meet. He's simply stepped out of time, scattered everywhere, all around."
Indeed, Yuan Li's voice and smile will remain with me and my family forever. She will always live on in our hearts.
Thank you, everyone.