Jane C Ku's Obituary
Jane Cheng-Tzu Ku (nee Hsiao) was born in Jiangxi Province in China on May 16, 1928. She was one of seven children. Her mother and father died when she was around 5 and 10 years old. Jane lived with her stepmother until she completed high school in 1948. That year, she moved with her sister-in-law, Mary Hsiao, and Mary’s two oldest children, David and Alice, to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where Mary’s husband, and one of Jane’s older brothers, Charles Hsiao, was working. Jane lived with Charles, Mary, David and Alice for 3 years until Jane married Roland Ku in 1951.In Taiwan, Jane taught elementary school for about 12 years, until she moved to the United States. Jane’s daughter, Lucy, and older son, Bob, were born in Taiwan. Her younger son, Don, was born in the United States.Jane’s husband, Roland, left Taiwan to attend graduate school in the U.S. in 1959, leaving Jane to take care of Lucy, Bob, and Roland’s father. It was around that time that Jane accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Jane, Lucy, and Bob were reunited with Roland in the U.S. in 1962, residing first in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, then in Livonia, Michigan.Jane adapted quickly to living in the United States by learning how to drive, becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, and putting up cardboard decorations for every holiday! In Taiwan, she had no need to cook as many households hired their own cooks. In the U.S., she quickly learned, and became an accomplished cook, to the point where she was the envy of many of her friends.Jane enjoyed growing vegetables and flowers in the backyard, sewing, knitting, and making crafts. She also enjoyed traveling the world with her family and friends. She was never one to boast, always giving and serving with a servant’s heart, always treating others better than herself.In 2002, Jane, Roland, and Lucy, moved from Michigan to California, living for 10 years in Santa Clara until Roland passed away. Jane and Lucy lived the next 5 years at the Golden Heritage assisted living facility in San Jose. On March 18, 2017, Jane passed away peacefully at the assisted living facility, with family members at her bedside.The Lord blessed Jane with a long life of 88 years; 20 years in China, 14 years in Taiwan, 40 years in Michigan, and 14 years in California.Throughout her life, Jane was a blessing to many people. She was devoted to her family, to her relatives, and to her friends. She embraced her role as a housewife, homemaker, and teacher. She filled the house with singing and laughter, and she was a joy to be around. Shortly after moving to California in 2002, Jane’s memory started to decline. The decline was gradual, then, along with several other health problems, reached a point where she needed assistance, especially after Roland passed away in 2012. Jane struggled to say meaningful things to family and friends, and to the caregivers at Golden Heritage. Yet she continued to say “gang xie sheng” (thank God) and “sheng de en dian” (because of the grace of God) all the way to her final days.Jane is survived by her three children, Lucy, Bob, and Don, two daughters-in-law, Ida and Michelle, and three grandchildren, Jennifer, Emily, and Addison.
What’s your fondest memory of Jane?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jane?
Share a story where Jane's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jane you’ll never forget.
How did Jane make you smile?