Sio-En Chen Lu Brief Biography (呂陳秀英 家母略歷)

9/24/1925 – 6/24/2015

By Chuang, Amy Lu (莊呂純惠）Delivered at the memorial service, July 3rd, 2015

My mother Sio-En Chen Lu was born in Hualien City, Taiwan, September 24th, 1925. Among her brothers and sisters, she was ranking second. Because of my grandfather (Chén, LáiJìn, grandmother Chén, Pān FùMěi) emphasis on education, after from public school (elementary school) graduation, she went to Danshui, ChunDe Girl School (Tamsui Tamkang High School) at the suggestion of the priest. Due to her interesting in music, she had planned entry to Music school in Japan. Unfortunately that coincided with the Pearl Harbor attack, and the subsequent US counterattack on all of the Japanese territories, where Taiwan became one of the target. The reserved seat on the Japanese transport of ship, was sunk by US air raid, on the way into Keelung Harbor. My mother had to return to Hualien, Dazhuang (now Hualien County, East Village), as a teacher. Therefore, she met my father (Lǚ , Chuán Běi 呂傳北) from the same school (after, becoming the first president of Ji-An Elementary school), the two in 1944, got married.

After the World War II, they left the east coast, settled in Taipei. My father was at work part time to complete the degree from Normal University. My mother worked at Normal University as librarian; in 1947, she was pregnant the eldest daughter, quit the job, at home mothers. Later, my father served as Taipei City Bureau of Education inspectors. My mother thought this was a secure situation. Life was simple but poor with yet more children- another daughter and two sons. Unexpectedly, my father due to malnutrition, and fatigue at the age 38 passed away. My mother was age 34.

My mother became a single mom to two sons and two daughters. Facing those dependents burden, she chose to work, as dormitory chief supervisor, during the long 20-year hardworking career, she did not take any sick leave of absence, finally, retired in 1982. Two years later, she left for the United States, staying with her second daughter Joyce’s family, and care of her two daughters, doing so until the younger daughter Priscilla graduated from college. After that, she had lived in elder daughter Amy family and younger son Vincent family. In 2012, settled in New York, lived in oldest son Jack family, when she was 86 years old, was found to have diabetes, and kidney failure requiring dialysis. Despite that, she said she was not sad, even though she had thrice-weekly dialysis routine of daily life. Thus become New York in recent years, Lu family reunion center ground.

My mother was dizzy from last September, with signs of anemia; earlier this year, there appears short breath symptoms, grandson Warren who is a medical doctor had urged into the hospital for treatment. Since then out of the hospital several times. The last, in June 20 she went into cardiac arrest requiring CPR. Four days later, with 3rd sister and her husband and her two sons and two daughters, singing several hours she left the world serenely, at the age of 90.

My mother's favorite hymn, "Hold my hand", "Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee;”, "The pursuit of dreams", "The quality of a given situation, which the Lord, God take care of you.", these are written to, in the Lord, her perfect obedience and trust, as well as real writing a loving mother to look forward her children. She was not only a loving mother, but also a loved her brothers and sisters, taking care of younger siblings, doing the best to encourage them. She was a 34-year-old widow, with the Lord in her heart, which for the sake of the children lives, decided to go out to work, force and keep the Lord's words, her favorite Bible verse, Matthew Chapter III: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." VIII: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." The Beatitudes of Jesus, following these principles in her life, and leaving children the best model. Her four children, the second daughter Joyce and her husband Patrick pioneering Pure Aromatic Theological Seminary in Chicago campus, the first daughter Amy, the first son Jack, the youngest son Vincent serve separately in Boston Taiwanese Christian Church, New York Tai-An Christian Church, Evangelical Formosan Church of Los Angeles, as an Elder for doing God's steward, to serve the Lord, to shepherd the church of God.

Psalm 90, Chapter l0 sections: "the length of our days is seventy years- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span, is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”. My mother passed over eighty threshold, away from the sadness, sickness; and harmony with the Lord, sharing the joy of heaven with my father.