Oi Tai

Celebrating the Life, Love, and Legacy of Edie (Oi Tai)

Edie (Oi Tai)) was born on June 11, 1941, in Wenzhou, China, and passed away peacefully on June 26, 2026, at the age of 85. She was a long-time resident of West Los Angeles, California, where she built a life defined by love, resilience, and devotion to family.

During her childhood in Wenzhou, Edie experienced the hardships of war, including the Japanese invasion of her hometown—experiences that helped shape the remarkable resilience and inner strength she carried throughout her life. Growing up amid scarcity, uncertainty, and adversity, she learned to face challenges with courage, perseverance, and a calm determination that would define her character.

From an early age, Edie displayed remarkable intelligence and natural ingenuity. She had the unique ability to use either hand with ease, reflecting her resourcefulness and creativity. In a world that often favored right-handedness, she was never defined by expectations or limitations. She approached life with confidence, flexibility, and a remarkable ability to navigate change and overcome whatever challenges came her way.

Edie was diagnosed with scoliosis at a young age, a condition she lived with throughout her life. Facing this challenge early on helped cultivate the perseverance, courage, and resilience that became hallmarks of her character.

She never allowed adversity to define her. Instead, she faced each challenge with courage, grace, and an enduring spirit, always moving forward with optimism, purpose, and hope.

She later moved to British Hong Kong and entered an arranged marriage at a young age. After enduring a difficult pregnancy, she welcomed her two children, Doris and Johnny. While her husband, Hak, pursued his culinary career, Edie devoted herself wholeheartedly to raising her family. Her family was always her greatest priority, and she found deep joy and fulfillment in creating a warm, loving, and nurturing environment where her children felt supported, cherished, and unconditionally loved.

Hak and Edie later immigrated to the United States in search of greater opportunities and a brighter future for their family. Through perseverance, dedication, and hard work, they built a stable and meaningful life in Southern California. After living in the Bay Area and Palm Springs, they eventually settled in Beverlywood, where they created a loving home filled with warmth, compassion, and an unwavering dedication to their family.

Edie expressed her love through countless quiet acts of kindness. She was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need and found genuine joy in caring for others. The safety and well-being of her loved ones were always her priority. No matter how late the hour, she would stay awake and call to make sure everyone had arrived home safely, a simple gesture that reflected her constant love, care, and concern.

For Edie, love was expressed through the many thoughtful details that showed how deeply she cared for her family and friends. She never forgot a birthday and always took the time to make personal phone calls to celebrate the people she loved. She remembered everyone’s favorite foods, snacks, and drinks, making sure they were always available whenever family visited. No one ever left her home empty-handed. She thoughtfully prepared meals and often packed food for her children and their families to take home, always thinking ahead about their needs and busy lives. She also prepared nourishing drinks, such as ginseng tea, as a way of showing her care for their health and well-being. Her love was constant, thoughtful, and deeply nurturing. Caring for others was not something she simply did - it was an expression of who she was.

Edie possessed extraordinary talents that were entirely self-taught. Through careful observation, hands-on experience, and her remarkable photographic memory, she learned to create, repair, and perfect almost anything she set her mind to. Without formal instruction, patterns, or tutorials, she relied on her natural ability, intuition, and skilled hands to master sewing, knitting, crocheting, floral arranging, gardening, cooking, and countless other crafts.

Her creativity extended into every part of her life. Whether preparing a meal, sewing a garment, creating handmade gifts, or tending her home and garden, Edie approached every task with patience, purpose, and quiet devotion. She was known for her tireless work ethic and her inability to sit still for long—there was always something to do, someone to help, or something to create.

She was especially gifted in sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Known for her exceptional skill in alterations, Edie could repair, adjust, or transform clothing with incredible precision and confidence. When something seemed impossible, she never hesitated—she simply found a way. Her ability to understand size, shape, and fit came naturally; she could often recreate garments simply by seeing them once, sometimes duplicating sweaters and clothing entirely from memory without patterns or measurements.

Edie’s life reflected a natural “can-do” spirit. She did not see limitations—only possibilities. With her creativity, ingenuity, and remarkable abilities, she transformed everyday materials into meaningful treasures filled with love. Her handmade sweaters, pillows, and other creations brought warmth and beauty into the lives of her family and friends. Each piece reflected her patience, generosity, and care, serving as a lasting reminder of the love she poured into everything she made and the special piece of her heart that will forever remain with those who cherished her.

Edie lived with extraordinary willpower and resilience. She was driven, capable, and deeply committed to everything she did. Whether creating something with her hands or facing life’s challenges, she approached each task with persistence, patience, and grace. She never allowed difficulties to define her; instead, she approached life’s challenges with resourcefulness, a positive outlook, and an unwavering belief that there was always a way forward.

Those who knew Edie often wondered where she found all her energy, because she never seemed to run out. She was constantly finding ways to create, care for others, and bring comfort and joy to the people around her. Her energy came from the deep love she had for her family and her home—a love that gave her purpose, filled her days with meaning, and inspired her to continue giving with dedication and warmth.

Edie embraced an active and healthy lifestyle throughout her life and believed deeply in the importance of staying engaged and independent. She took great pride in her daily walks and continued walking for as long as she was able, even using a cane when needed. Her determination and positive outlook reflected her desire to live each day with purpose and appreciation. She also found great joy in tending her garden, where she lovingly nurtured flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Watching each blossom bloom and every harvest flourish brought her immense happiness and reflected the same patience, care, and tenderness she shared with her family. Whether caring for her garden or those she loved, Edie gave of herself wholeheartedly, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, generosity, and a love that will continue to live on through those who knew her.

Edie deeply valued education and believed it had the power to transform lives and open doors to a brighter future - an opportunity she herself was not able to have. Through her sacrifices, encouragement, and unwavering support, she inspired and guided the next two generations of her family to pursue higher education and become college graduates. Her greatest hope was that future generations would continue to value education, pursue their dreams, and embrace opportunities that she never had. Through them, her belief in the power of learning and a better future will continue to live on.

Edie’s generosity extended far beyond her own household. Together with her husband, Hak, she helped sponsor their siblings and support their journey in building new lives in the United States, giving them opportunities for a better future. She welcomed family with kindness, humility, and a willingness to help whenever she could. Her selflessness touched many lives, and her legacy lives on not only through her own family, but also through the relatives whose lives she helped shape and improve.

Even after Scleroderma began to affect her health, Edie remained remarkably determined. She continued to stay as active as she could, rarely allowing life's challenges to diminish her spirit. She faced each day with courage, perseverance, and quiet strength, never giving up despite the obstacles before her.

Guided by her faith, Edie lived a life of compassion, humility, kindness, and generosity. She found joy in caring for others, always putting the needs of her family and those around her before her own. Her quiet strength, steadfast dedication, and loving heart touched countless lives and will remain an enduring inspiration to all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 69 years, Hak; her daughter, Doris; her son, Johnny; son-in-law, Ben; grandchildren Joshua and Christie (Doris’s children); grandchildren Colby and Cooper, and granddaughter-in-law Andrea (Johnny’s family); as well as extended family and cherished friends whose lives were touched by her love and kindness and who will miss her dearly.

Edie’s love, strength, and devotion will continue to live on through the family she built, the lives she touched, and the extraordinary legacy of compassion, resilience, and care she leaves behind. Her legacy will remain an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.

The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to Genentech for the support provided through its patient assistance program, which helped Edie continue receiving her prescribed infusion therapy during her treatment. This support gave her more precious time to be with the people she loved, and for that, we will always be grateful.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly invites you to make a donation in memory of Oi Tai Tai to the Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research, improving treatments, and pursuing a cure for scleroderma through collaboration with leading scientists, researchers, and medical institutions. Your support will help continue the important work of bringing hope to individuals and families affected by this disease.