Randy Yang peacefully passed away, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, at the too young age of 84. She was such a positive force in life, and she still had so much to give.

Behind every great family, there is a great mother, and Randy personified this throughout her life. Her fierce spirit, dry sense of humor, and unconditional generosity were hallmarks of her personality. As a 50+ year resident of Urbana, Illinois, she was able to build a global network of friends, hosting dinner parties, playing mahjong, dancing, and singing karaoke. Those who were lucky to know Randy maintained their connections with her long after passing through.

She was heart-brokenly preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kwang-Shi, in 1996. But she conquered her grief by teaching herself to be self-sufficient, thrive in her independence, and become an even more formidable matriarch for her family. She taught us how to be and stay a family through love, acceptance, and togetherness. Those continuing to hold Randy in their memories include her children (Dr. Eric & Shirley Yang, Diane & Greg Hatcher, Alan & Tina Yang, and Elaine & Huby Pan), grandchildren (Jake, Nick, Kalina, Kyra, Erin, Kyle, Alex, and Sydney), and her sisters and brothers.

Randy was born in Hong Kong, but came to the U.S. in 1959 after short time in the U.K. to stay with her older sister’s family and help with childcare. That Christmas, she met Kwang-Shi, the brother of her sister’s husband. They secretly started dating, fell deeply in love and got married. When they moved to Urbana, the OG Yang Gang was created. Randy had her hands full with her own brood for the next 18 years. Once her children had grown, Randy went back to college and got her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois. After that, she taught special needs children in the Urbana School District for many years.