Su’s life was faith driven. She was a prayer warrior for her family and friends and found joy in serving, worshiping, sharing her faith, and fellowship. She drew strength from reading the Bible, singing hymns, and listening to Christian radio.
Su will be remembered as a nurturer who thought of others before herself. She made sure her children had the best of everything she could provide for them, that their plates were always full, and that they knew they were often in her thoughts.
Su was born September 26, 1936, in Jiufen, a mountain town in northeastern Taiwan, the second daughter of Lin Chang Lin and Mai Hsu Lin. Her name, which translates to goodness and kindness, was prophetic.
Her family later moved to Taoyuan City. Su’s father was a businessman, and some of his work involved precious metals. During World War II, the family experienced uncertainty because of the Japanese occupation. Su had three sisters who she cared for deeply and a younger brother who she felt protective of. This helped shape her nurturing spirit and desire for strong family bonds.
After graduation from high school, Su studied accounting and worked at a bank. After meeting her future husband in Taiwan, Su joined T.D. in Newport, Tennessee, in 1963. They married February 12, 1964, and eventually moved to Oklahoma, where Tim and Christina were born. As T.D. pursued education and employment, the growing family moved around—from Oklahoma to Texas to Pennsylvania and then to Evanston, Illinois. They eventually settled in Wilmette, Illinois, where David and Michael were born. This is where they resided for almost fifty years.
In the mid-eighties Su returned to the workforce. She started as a part-time shelver at the Wilmette Public Library and was quickly promoted to director of shelving. She held this position until she retired in 2007. Through her twenty-plus years of service, she developed fond relationships with her coworkers.
Su loved to cook, and it was one of the ways she expressed her great love. Some of her best dishes were sweet rice, sweet-and-sour pork, Mongolian beef, deep-fried shrimp, Mi-fun, egg-custard, pork buns, and beef noodle soup. She was known for her deep-fried wontons which were perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft and savory on the inside. The simple act of making the deep-fried wontons as a family was a bonding experience.
Su’s social support revolved around Evangelical Trinity Church (ETC) and the Wilmette Chinese Women’s Club, where she formed many close friendships. These lifelong relationships brought joy to her life and she influenced many along the way.
She and T.D. traveled the world to exciting places like Geneva, Paris, and Banff. They made yearly trips in the winter to stay with their son David in San Francisco, where they helped take care of their grandchildren and took advantage of the abundance of great Asian food in the city, Su’s favorite being a crab dish at a Chinese restaurant called R & G Lounge. She also enjoyed family reunion trips to Myrtle Beach, Wisconsin Dells, and Taiwan, where she was in her glory surrounded by the love and chaos of all her family and grandchildren. When at home Su and T.D. enjoyed taking long walks through Winnetka Park and Lovelace Park. One of their favorite places to visit was the Chicago Botanic Garden.
From 1990 to 1995, T.D.’s work required him to relocate to Maryland and Taiwan. During this time, Su rose to the challenge of independently managing the family while working full time. She found her strength in God and through her support network of friends.
Throughout her life, Su was a fighter. She endured multiple medical ailments beginning with breast cancer in her fifties and myasthenia gravis in her seventies, which resulted in physical limitations including compromised vision and hearing. As her physical limitations increased, T.D. was always there for her. Whenever Su was admitted to the hospital or rehab, T.D. stayed by her side day and night to care for her. As time went on his cognitive condition and physical ailments required her to care for him. Through it all she stayed mentally strong to continue to support T.D. and her family. She overcame multiple medical challenges and hospitalizations to always return home to him and make sure he was cared for. Only after he had passed did she feel ready to leave this life with him.
Survivors include three sisters and her brother, four children: Timothy (May) Lin, Christina (Mark) Giacomin, David (Mimi) Lin, and Michael (Grace) Lin; and ten grandchildren: Jefferson Lin, Julia, Jessica, A.J., and Jake Giacomin, Phoebe, Allison, and Joseph Lin, and Matthew and Oliver Lin. Su was preceded in death by her parents, Lin Chang Lin and Mai Hsu Lin.
Due to the coronavirus, Su will be remembered with a memorial service at a later date. Interment will be private at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, IL.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Winnetka Japanese Church, 305 Ridge Rd., Wilmette, IL 60091, or Evangelical Trinity Church, 9800 Crawford Ave., Skokie, IL 60076. Please indicate “Su Lin” in the memo of your donation.
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