July 30--Raised in modest circumstances in Chicago's Chinatown, Anna Mei Wu became the teenage bride of a diplomat for the Republic of China whose work took the couple to Shanghai during the World War II, when parts of the city were occupied by Japanese forces.
Her husband, Paak Shing Wu, who died in 1988, was China's consul general in Singapore before political turmoil in China pushed the couple to return to Chicago in the early 1950s.
"She married at 16," said May Moy, who is married to a nephew of Wu's. "She changed her own future through marriage."
Wu, 101, died of natural causes June 25 in the Presbyterian Homes in Evanston, according to Moy. She lived most of her life in Chicago, moving to Evanston about 18 years ago.
Wu, often called Ann, was born Anna Moy in Chicago and grew up in Chinatown, one of eight siblings. Her father worked laying railroad tracks on the West Coast before coming to Chicago, where he opened a gift shop with his brothers.
While at Haines Elementary School in Chinatown, she also studied Chinese. She attended Hyde Park High School.
She met her future husband while he was studying at the University of Chicago. Both sang in the choir at the Chinese Christian Union Church on South Wentworth Avenue, according to Moy. A three-year courtship ensued.
In 1929, he asked her to return with him to China and the two were married there not long afterward.
The couple had two daughters, both of whom died as toddlers.
From 1942 to 1945, her husband was director of foreign affairs in Shanghai. With the Japanese occupying much of the city, life in Shanghai was difficult. She and her husband "helped many people," Moy said.
Helen Lee and her sister were two of the people they helped, after Lee's mother met Wu and her husband in the church choir where they all sang.
"I can tell you Auntie Ann and Uncle PS (Paak Shing) were very kind to us, very generous," Lee said.
"We were poor, they were a little better off and they shared food with us," Lee said. "Later, Uncle PS helped us with immigration papers we needed to leave Shanghai."
In 1945, Wu and her husband moved to Singapore, where he served as consul general until 1950, soon after the Chinese civil war and the Communist takeover of mainland China.
A short time later, the couple came to Chicago, where Mr. Wu eventually became a stockbroker.
Wu worked for many years as a bookkeeper and remained active in the Chinese Christian Union Church.
"She sang in the choir and held leadership roles there," Moy said.
Sylvia Wu, who is not related, knew Wu as someone very involved in the church's Cantonese group.
"She was well-loved as a pianist accompanying music groups," Sylvia Wu said in a voice mail message, adding that her mother enjoyed Wu's music. "We're very grateful for her friendship."
Survivors include two brothers, Eugene and Grant.
Services were held.
