Shirley Shin-Yu Chow

周新宇女士生平事略

周新宇女士(Shirley Shin-yu Chow)祖籍湖南湘鄉。生於1928年9月8日於長沙。父親周宏誠(歿)，母親陳嘉芷(歿)出生世家，在三兄一妹中排行老四，然二哥, 三哥及幺妹早逝. 與大哥競宇 (2015歿)最為親近。年少時曾經歷戰爭及日本侵華的蹂躏与顛沛。曾就讀於長沙二女中附小，昆明粵秀小學，貴陽初中高中及長沙周南女中。畢業後曾生病半年，遷至台灣台北，進入台灣大學歷史系，後轉入經濟系，1952年獲得學士學位。她是父母的寵女，在愛中成長。

學成後就職於招商局，任會計，並管理1, 2 人。於工作时，經友人介紹認識家父周以霖先生，看他為人善良正直。於1956年1月8日結婚。長子美大同年生於北。夫先來美國留學，她於1962年帶子乘坐商船 "海上輪" 赴美團聚，並於1965年生了女兒美心。

除了會計以外，家母向學勤奮，在大学夜校攻读计算机科学系，後擔任計算機程序員。她先後在R.C. Bigelow Tea Co.(Norwalk, CT), Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, MA), Battelle Labs (Richland, WA), Rockwell Rocketdyne (Canoga Park, CA), Infodetics (Santa Monica, CA)等多家公司服務，負責盡職，兼顧工作及家庭。

由於家父工作的變化，一家人曾居住多處，包括康州Norwalk, 纽约州Jamestown及Glens Falls, 维吉尼亚州Waynesboro, 新澤西州Livingston, 麻州Needham, 華盛顿州Richland及加州Rosemead等地。1996年退休後定居南加州蘋果谷Apple Valley。作為賢妻良母，她總是尊敬丈夫，並順應環境的變遷。早期時，一家常是城中唯一的華人家庭。她對兒女，親友的愛護與教導，更是影響甚深。

她於紐約州Jamestown的Bethel Baptist Church認識主並受浸，是家中第一位信主耶稣基督的。後又参加維吉尼亞州Waynesboro Free Methodist Church, 由Wayne Lawton牧師帶領。歷經麻州波士頓郊區華人聖經教會，新澤西州West Essex Baptist Church，三鎮華人宣道會，Lake Avenue Church (湖街教會)及高原華人基督教會。她喜愛音樂及聖樂，閱讀聖經，唱歌及參與詩班。最喜歡的詩歌是"主禱文"及"愛的真諦"。最喜愛的聖經是哥林多前書13章的愛篇，又喜愛天藍色及藍色。家母有接見款待的恩賜(gift of hospitality)，經常和家父烹煮菜餚及招待客人朋友，曾回憶在華盛頓州三鎮教會時光為在美最快樂的日子，與弟兄姊妹同樂。她喜愛所有交往過的朋友，也謝謝不時的關心。隨著家庭漸漸擴大，有媳婦曉梅，女婿重文，及三位外孫，練志恆(Timothy), 練志信(Jeffrey)及練志篤(Daniel)。一家人聚餐的美好時光讓人懷念。她的蝦仁馬鈴薯沙拉已成為絕饗。

家母本著中國傳統女性及基督徒精神，順夫愛子。家父晚年多病，她悉心照料，體貼努力。自2011年10月17日夫婿去世後，她生活頓失重心，較寡言，胃口漸減，加上多年的糖尿病，大都居家足不出戶。但她卻經常為兒女家人親友禱告。她有代禱的恩賜，常常把各樣事情帶到主前，求主賜福指引。並鼓勵家人服事主，尤其美大曉梅居牧職，她更是寶貴的同工，第一線的代禱者，一起服事，擴展神國，故此必在天上得大獎賞。她留下的吩咐就是: "要努力事奉主。" 近日來她的體重開始下降，至12/28日在家中摔了一跤後，健康即迅速下滑。蒙主憐憫，未多受痛苦，於2017年1月16日夜間凌晨約二時三十分，於睡眠中離開人世，進入愛她的主基督懷裡，與天上的親朋團聚，並享受永遠的福樂。想到她的慈愛笑容, 常常溫暖我們的心，並激起無限思念之情。


Biography of Shirley Shin-yu Chow

Shirley Shin-yu Chow was born September 8, 1928 in Changsha, Hunan, China. Her grandfather was from nearby Xiangxiang, Hunan. In her family were father Hung-cheng (dec.), mother Chia-chih Chen (dec.) and 5 siblings. She was the 4th child. Sadly, two older brothers and one younger sister died young, leaving her and eldest brother, Chin-yu (dec. 2015), with whom she was quite close. Being the younger child and only daughter, her parents showered her with love and care. She later enrolled as a student at the primary school affiliated with Changsha 2nd Girls High School. Then she moved to Kunming and completed her primary education at Yue-hsiu School. The family then moved to Guiyang where she went to middle & high school. She graduated from Chou-Nan Girls High School in Changsha. In her younger years, the family experienced the turmoil and uncertainties of the Sino-Japanese War. After graduation, she fell ill for half a year, but recovered. Later, she moved to Taipei, Taiwan with her family and enrolled at National Taiwan University, first as a history major and later switching to economics, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1952.

Not long after, she worked in accounting at the China Merchants Bureau and oversaw 1-2 employees. During this time, she was introduced by a friend to our father, Allan I-lin Chow. Admiring him for his good heart and upright character, the two married on January 8, 1956. Then, when their firstborn, Martin Mei-ta, was just 1 year 3 months, Allan left Taiwan to study as an international student in the USA. In early 1962, Mom & Martin emigrated to the U.S. on board the "Haishang" commercial ship, going through U.S. Customs on 1/16/62 (exactly 55 years to the day before she passed away), and arrived in New York City to reunite with Allan, after being apart for 4 years. Later, on New Year's Day 1965, a daughter, Margaret Mei-shin was born & added to the family.

Having worked in accounting many years, Mom decided to earn a degree in computer science by taking night classes after work. After graduating, she began work in her second career of computer programming. Companies she worked for include R.C. Bigelow Tea Co. (Norwalk, CT), Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, MA), Battelle Labs (Richland, WA), Rockwell Rocketdyne (Canoga Park, CA) and Infodetics (Santa Monica, CA). She was known for her meticulous industry and loyalty at work, and managed to maintain a careful balance between family and career.

Due to Dad's periodic changes in work, the family lived in many places, including Norwalk, CT, Jamestown & Glens Falls, NY, Waynesboro, VA, Livingston, NJ, Needham, MA, Richland, WA & Rosemead, CA. Upon retirement in 1996, the Chows settled in Apple Valley, CA. As a virtuous wife and good mother, she respected her husband and learned to adjust to changes in the living environment. Early on, up to the early 70s, the Chows were the only Chinese family in town. Her devoted love and educational emphasis for the children played a significant role in their growth & development.

Mom became a Christian, the first one in the family, and was baptized in 1965 at Bethel Baptist Church in Jamestown, NY. She later attended Waynesboro Free Methodist Church pastored by Rev. Wayne Lawton, where Allan came to the LORD. Membership at other churches include Greater Boston Chinese Bible Church (MA), West Essex Baptist Church (NJ), Tri-Cities Chinese Alliance Church (WA), Lake Avenue Church (CA) & High Desert
Chinese Christian Church (CA), etc. She loved music & Christian music, reading the Bible & choral singing. Her favorite songs of faith are "The Lord's Prayer" and "The Essence of Love" (Chinese). Her favorite Scripture is I Corinthians 13, the love chapter. Sky blue & blue are favorite colors.

Shirley had the gift of hospitality and practiced it often with Dad by cooking delicious meals for friends & guests at home. She fondly remembers her time living in Richland, WA with church friends as her happiest moments in the U.S. She appreciates all her friends and thanks them for their care & concern. By God's grace, more members were added to the family with Sharmaye (daughter-in-law), Willington (son-in-law), and three grandsons, Timothy, Jeffrey & Daniel. As family members, we all thoroughly enjoyed her culinary skills. Her shrimp potato salad was a real treat in taste & nutrition.

In Shirley resided the traditional values of a Chinese woman and a Christ-like spirit. This led her to submit to her husband and love her children. Though Dad had his share of health challenges, she took excellent care of him. When Dad was in hospice, Mom took up the responsibility of constant care. After he passed away on 10/17/2011, however, Mom's life suddenly lost focus, and she became more withdrawn, spoke less, and her appetite declined. Add to this the physical toll of battling diabetes since her 30s, she spent more time at home, rarely going out. However, she prayed often for her family members, relatives and friends. As a gifted intercessor, she brought requests before the LORD in prayer, asking Him to lead & guide. She often encouraged family members to serve the LORD. Mom was a precious co-worker of Martin & Sharmaye, who are pastors and leaders in the Body of Christ. As a frontline prayer warrior, she served to expand God's Kingdom. For this, we believe that God has a great reward for her in heaven . The charge she has given us and future generations is: "Serve the LORD fervently."

In recent days, her body weight began to decline, until 12/28/16 when she fell at home. After this, her health rapidly deteriorated. By the LORD's mercy, she did not suffer much or long. About 2:30 AM on 1/16/2017, she passed away peacefully in her sleep, and entered into the presence of the LORD Jesus who loves her so. Now she is reunited with her loved ones, where she will always be joyful and continue to pray for us. We will deeply miss her beaming smile and loving heart. "Mother, may you rest peacefully until the day we meet again!"