Nancy Yoon Leu Tam

We grieve the loss of a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother Nancy K. Tam (譚關潤柳) who passed at the age of 91 on August 10, 2024 in Monterey Park. Nancy was born on November 22, 1932 in China. She is the fifth child of eight children to Kwan Jak Kan (關則權) and Wu Yue Heung (胡如香). Nancy was the 4th daughter and in her formative years, she grew up in a large family in Guangdong, China. At age 24, Nancy married Edward Shin Tam (譚堯銑)and then moved to Hong Kong to start a new life together. Nancy was a loving mother with pride for her family. Together, Nancy and Edward had 4 children: daughter Susan, son Paul; daughter Maizie; and son David.

Life in Hong Kong was not easy for Nancy and her family. Edward took a 2-year job opportunity with the Levi-Strauss company in Singapore. Back home in Hong Kong, Nancy raised three young children (BD: Before David) by herself. Doing the best that she could, Nancy provided a safe home for her children and sustained the family with help from her sisters and relatives. After Edward returned from Singapore, he and Nancy made the decision to relocate the family to the United States. In May of 1969, the Tam’s arrived in the U.S. and settled in Chinatown, Los Angeles. They worked hard, saved up enough money, and in 1972, were able to buy their first home in Monterey Park, California.

Nancy and her husband Edward both worked in the garment industry. While Edward worked as a tailor and fabric pattern layout designer, Nancy worked as a seamstress for several garment companies. The early years in the U.S. also brought humble beginnings. While living in Chinatown, the Tam’s lived in a small one-bedroom apartment. Nancy, Edward and their two youngest children would sleep on two mattresses squeezed in the bedroom. The two oldest kids slept on the floor and sofa in the living room. Nancy was a supportive homemaker for her husband and four young children. Early in the morning, Edward would take a bus to downtown L.A. to work. Nancy would get Susan, Paul and Maizie ready for school, then walked to work, all while carrying two-year-old David in a sling on her back.

Several years after purchasing their home, Edward began several business ventures with colleagues in the same industry, but they were all short lived. Finally in 1980, Edward’s dream came true when he started his own sewing factory on the outskirts of downtown Los Angeles. Nancy worked hard and supported Edward by his side six days a week and sometimes even on Sundays. The Tam’s sewing factory prospered, and at one point, employed over thirty people. In 1992, Edward and Nancy retired from the garment business and enjoyed life sharing time together with family and friends.

Nancy’s favorite pastime was playing mahjong and going to horse races. During gatherings with family and friends, the popular Mahjong game was always a hit with everyone. Even the children played as they all watched and learned the game from the adults over the years. On Sunday evenings, after a day at the racetrack, the Tam’s children were filled with hope and expectation that their parents would come home with news of winning at the track. That’s when the family would go out to dinner and celebrate at a local Chinese restaurant.

Taking care of grandchildren became the focus of Nancy’s life as Vanessa, Krystie, and Lauren became weekday regulars in the Tam’s household. Then soon after, Alston joined in on the fun as well. Nancy spent most of her time playing, caring and teaching Cantonese to her grandkids. She also enjoyed sharing meals and shopping for them. Nancy never learned to drive, but she still managed to be quite independent. She acquired monthly public transportation bus passes that enabled her to visit friends and family and go shopping on her own terms.

At her core, Nancy was a simple person. She lived a simple life with simple means. Even when she had opportunities to splurge, she remained humble. When presented with gifts from her husband, children and grandchildren, Nancy would always respond by saying: “Aiyah, Umm Saih”. But Nancy had a heart of gold, especially her deep love for her family.

Nancy K. Tam (譚關潤柳) is survived by her four children, (daughter Susan Tam-Ortencio & husband Joey, son Paul Tam & wife Darla, daughter Maizie Tam, and son David Tam & wife Kathy), seven grandchildren (Vanessa Ortencio-Delmonico & husband Drew, Krystie Ortencio-Quach & husband Richard, Lauren Ortencio-Tran & husband Clinton, Alston Nguyen, Jennifer Tam-Flores & husband Joseph, Michael Tam and Julia Tam), and six great grandchildren (Sophie Ortencio-Delmonico, Briana Quach, Joy Flores, Bryce Quach, James Flores and Eli Tran). Our love for Nancy K. Tam (譚關潤柳) will never die; we take comfort in knowing that she is now free and no longer bound to her earthly body. She is reunited with her husband Edward and is celebrating life everlasting with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in heaven.

Please join us in celebrating the life of a woman who was loved deeply and will be missed. Services schedule are as follows:

Visitation:

Location: Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary, Visitation Center

3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601

Date: Friday, August 30, 2024

Time: 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Memorial Celebration Service:

Location: Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary, Memorial Chapel

3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601

Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024

Time: 9:00 am to 10:00 am

Grave Site Service immediately following:

Grave site location: Sunshine Terrace, Gate: 1, Section: 18, Lot: 6822, Grave: 3.

Reception:

Location: First Baptist Church of Alhambra

101 S. Atlantic Blvd.

Alhambra, CA 91801

Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024

Time: 11:30 am to 3:00 pm