Mee Chiu Chong

Mee Chiu Chong, age 99, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Brooklyn, New York, passed away suddenly after a brief illness on February 13th, 2026. Her final moments were spent peacefully in her home in Fort Lauderdale, FL surrounded by her family.  She was born on January 2nd, 1927, in Guangdong, China.

Mee arrived as a new bride from Hong Kong in New York City during the 1950’s. She overcame great struggles and sacrifices that all immigrants face when arriving in a new country. She wanted to provide a life for her growing family with little funds and little knowledge of the English language.  Always possessing an entrepreneurial spirit, she worked hard for years running a Chinese hand laundry with her late husband, Ah Chong, and saved enough to purchase a garment sewing factory. She ran both businesses simultaneously until his passing in 1978. Between running the two businesses and raising her young family, one of her great joys was having her Belgian Malinois, Frisky, accompany her as a watch dog in the Chinese hand laundry.

After facing the sudden tragic loss of her husband, Ah, while her children were young teenagers, she steadfastly found the strength to continue running the Chinese hand laundry until she retired in 1991. Although the true meaning of retirement did not last long, as tiring as it was, she soon found enjoyment in caring for her four immediate grandchildren. She took them on walks to McDonald’s, food shopping, playing in school yards, and taking them back and forth to school. Her grandchildren truly enjoyed the noodles and other culinary dishes that she made for them after school. Mee made certain that all 3 of her children pursued a college education to ensure that they had every opportunity to succeed in life.  Happily, today, two of her children, George and Mary, along with their spouses, Cheri and Raymond, are retired while Elaine and her husband Pete are semi-retired.

Mee was known for her strength, resilience, and love of family, she is and will be deeply missed by her loving family and friends.  A devoted wife to the late Ah Chong, loving mother to George Chong (Cheri), Elaine Chong Monella (Peter), Mary Chong Chiu (Raymond), and loving grandmother to Jennifer Chiu, Alexandria Chong, Justin Chiu, Nicholas Chong, and Brandon Monella.  One of Mee’s greatest joys was seeing all her grandchildren during the holidays.  Although she lived in a different state, the entire family flocked to her side to spend every precious moment with her every Thanksgiving.

Mee is also survived by her younger brother Zhao You Liang, his four sons, their spouses and children, her late sister Shui Yee Chan’s three sons and daughter, their spouses and children, her younger sister Shui Ping But in Hong Kong, her 2 sons and 2 daughters, their spouses and children, and yet another younger sister, Chiu Say Nooy, in China and her children and grandchildren.

Mee leaves behind a large family that will miss her huge smile and her strong presence.