Mimi Sue Yip

Born on July 24, 1968 in San Francisco, Mimi was a devoted daughter to Hazel and Robert Yip, loving sister to Leonard, Gwendolyn, Penelope, and Alethea; sister-in-law to John Kelleher, Albert Liu and Walter Denlinger; adoring aunt to Catherine Kelleher, Elizabeth Kelleher, John Kelleher Jr., Keira Denlinger, Veronica Denlinger, Evan Liu and Kara Liu; and best friend to Laura Kwong.

Mimi tirelessly took care of her parents, making sure they ate right, exercised, and, most importantly, enjoyed life. She loved the finer things in life—good food, the latest fashions, entertaining movies and TV shows, and cutting-edge music—and she was always quick to share it all with everyone in her world, becoming the one to turn to when you needed to know what to wear, eat, listen to or watch.

She was also a kid at heart and always kept the house stocked with toys, animation DVDs and ice cream for whenever her nieces and nephews came to visit. She rightfully earned the title of "The Fun Auntie".

And among the siblings in her family, she was the jokester with a wicked sense of humor that would make a sailor blush. She had a way of evoking Dave Chappelle with a side of Betty White—clever raunchiness with just enough innocence that helped her get away with saying almost anything to anyone. But underneath those pranks and one-liners beat a heart of pure gold, one that had proven time and time again that she was a blessing to everyone she touched.

If she met you once, she would remember you. And if you met her once, you would never forget her. Her smile was wide and her warmth was deep. And it was easy to get enveloped in both.

In fact, Mimi never met a stranger. Everyone she encountered was either a fast friend or a future friend. Whenever she met someone new, she made it a point to learn their name and maybe a few of their interests so she could connect with them. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary or milestone event. And if you were sick or struggling with something in your life, she would regularly check on you to make sure you were OK and to cheer you up if you needed it. She made everyone feel special. Perhaps it was because she knew how very special she was to her family and friends and wanted to spread that feeling to others.

She loved to laugh and she loved to make others laugh—it was almost a mission for her. She always had a smile on her face that brightened every room she entered—whether it was a party with friends, a family function, or when she was at work as an administrative assistant at the UCSF Pediatric Dental Department.

But we often forget that those who seem the happiest in life also hide their pain the best. She was no exception. When she was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago, it shook her world. Yet she refused to dampen her sense of humor and made the best of a devastating situation. She fought hard with courage and refused to let it define her. And the jokes continued to roll off her tongue even in her last days.

In the hospital emergency room, one of her sisters commented on another sister's unusual earrings and Mimi, not missing a beat, raised her head from the bed, cocked it to one side and dryly said that the earrings looked like a female body part. The whole room erupted with laughter.

Someone once said that the good die young because they are ready for the next level. And Mimi was the master of taking things to the next level—just ask anyone who has been on the receiving end of one of her jokes.

Cancer may have ripped her from our lives, but it could not extinguish the bright glow of her spirit and love.

We're going to miss her, but she has gifted us with a lifetime of fun, silly, and beautiful memories to shine a light on the darkness created by her absence.