Week In Review

Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao's mom passed away after fighting cancer for seven years. She looked remarkably graceful and from what I read what a woman she had been, raising unbelievable children. Chinese media have full page coverage of her passing for three days.

Here are two obituaries I found from The New York Times.

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The New York Times

August 8, 2007 Wednesday
Late Edition - Final

Paid Notice: Deaths CHAO, RUTH MULAN CHU

CHAO--Ruth Mulan Chu 77, wife, mother, Asian scholar, and
philanthropist passed away on Thursday, August 2, 2007 at
New York Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital after a seven
year battle with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Precious wife of
Dr. James S.C. Chao, Chairman of the Foremost Group of New
York, cherished mother of United States Secretary of Labor
Elaine L. Chao, Jeannette, May, Christine, Grace, and Angela
Chao; treasured grandmother of Ben, Tyler, Alexia, Penelope,
Miranda Mei and Jessica Ruth; and beloved mother-in-law of
Republican Leader in the United Senate Mitch McConnell,
Jeffrey Hwang, Jos Shaver and Gordon Hartogensis. A native
of Anhui, China, she came to the United States as a young
mother with three children in 1961, to join her husband who
had arrived three years earlier. At the age of 51, she
decided to return to school and earn a Master's degree in
Asian literature and history from St. John's University. She
has also established several foundations that provide scores
of scholarships annually in her native land of China. A
devout Christian and a lifelong church and community
volunteer, she is deeply mourned by friends and family.

CHAO--Ruth Mulan Chu. The Board of Trustees of St. John's
University joins with the entire University community in
mourning the passing of Ruth Mulan Chu Chao. An accomplished
alumna who returned to the University at the age of 51 to
attain a Master's degree in Asian Literature and History,
she was an esteemed member of our University community.
Along with her husband, alumnus and trustee emeritus James
S.C. Chao, her daughter, honorary alumna and U.S. Secretary
of Labor Elaine L. Chao, and her son-in-law, honorary
alumnus United States Senator Mitch McConnell, she
participated in a variety of University activities, where
she touched us with her grace and dignity. She loved and was
beloved by her husband and daughters. She and they are in
our thoughts and prayers in this time of sorrow. Thomas E.
McInerney, Chair, Board of Trustees Donald J. Harrington,
C.M., President

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