Susan Sunchu Huang

Susan Sun Huang was born on October 26, 1938, to her father, Yinrong Sun and mother, Jiaying Peng.  After graduating from the prestigious Sun Yat-sen University in Guandong, China, Susan began her career as an educator that she loved for 36 years.  She was the English professor at Huainan Normal University for more than 20 years until she moved to the United States.

In 1961, Susan met her husband, Peter B.C Huang at a school event. They fell deeply in love and married two years later. Despite enduring ten years of a long-distance marriage, they continued to show their everlasting love for each other for over 60 years.  Their bond remained strong over decades and continues through their two children, Jesse and Amy, who learned how to live with love, integrity, and responsibility from them.

In 1986, Susan and her husband made the life changing decision to immigrate with their family to the United States in pursuit of a better education for their children.  She continued her career as an educator by teaching in classrooms across the Sacramento City Unified School District for another 16 years until she retired.  Starting over in a foreign country at 48 years-old is not easy, but her tenacity, devotion to family, and inner strength created a strong foundation for her family in Sacramento over three decades.

In 2002, she retired from teaching and started the greatest profession of all—grandma. She took pride and joy in watching her five grandchildren grow up. Her happiest moments were seeing her grandchildren playing music and sports—she even surprising them with a few basketball tricks of her own!

In late 2017, she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer.  After getting over the initial shock, she continued to fight courageously for years against this illness using the same strength that fortified her and her family when coming to America. She decided to become an eternal guardian for her family on June 10, 2022.  She appreciated every medical professional who took care of her and rooted for her as “Sweet Grandma Susan.”

Susan was 84 and lived a happy and fulfilling life surrounded by the utmost love and admiration from her family and friends.  She was kind, caring, loving, wise, and the anchor of her family. 

She lives on through her husband, Peter.  Her sister-in-law Yanru Yang; her brother, Yu Sun and spouse Min Ai.  Her children, Jesse and spouse Olivia, grandchildren Sophie, Skylar with mother Carrie, Spring with mother Ivy; and Amy and spouse Duper Tong, grandchildren Danielle and Alvin.  She is also remembered by the entire Huang and Sun family, and the many, many friends who loved her dearly.

Her parents and brother, Zhu Sun, embrace her with open arms in heaven.

Gone from our sights, but forever in our hearts,

May she rest in peace.

For those of you who wishes to make a donation in our mom’s name, please donate to UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center online: https://give.ucdavis.edu/Donate/YourGift/CC48317, and select “In Memory” of Susan Sun Huang.