Caroline Kai-Yu Fong-Cheng (方開瑜) passed away on June 3rd at the age of 85. She suffered from late stage Alzheimer's disease and a massive stroke. Caroline was born in Fukien, China to father Mou Fong and mother Ching-Fen Hsieu as the second oldest of seven children. Caroline emigrated from China to Taiwan at the age of 14 to finish her studies and eventually attended Taiwan National University on scholarship to study in the pharmacy school. It is in Taiwan that she learned about Christ and became a Christian. Throughout her life, Caroline was known to be a servant for Christ whether it was helping in her church or inviting new immigrants to attend worship.
In her young adult life, Caroline moved from Taiwan to Saskatchewan, Canada where she earned a Masters of Science degree in bacteriology. Shortly thereafter, she moved to the United States to earn her PhD in microbiology from Yale University. She made New Haven, Connecticut her home for over 50 years serving the Yale University community as part of the department of laboratory medicine at the medical school as well as contributing to virology research and diagnostics at the VA Medical Center in West Haven, CT. She published many scientific papers in virology journals and was part of a laboratory headed by Dr. Edith GD Hsiung that had an international record for discoveries and training.
While she was studying in Connecticut, Caroline met her husband, Peter, traveling on a plane. They married a few years after that memorable flight. God blessed Peter and Caroline with their son, Pierson, daughter-in-law Eileen (Yeh), granddaughter Hannah, and twin grandsons Josiah and Ethan. She is also survived by 5 siblings who remain in China.
A graveside service will be held on June 28th at 11:00 am at Rose Hills Cemetery, Garden of Serenity.
