- J
- T
Aug 12, 2025
This is for my beloved sister, Julie Chu.
Julie was a gentle soul who lived her life with simplicity and kindness. As her brother, I was deeply touched by her quiet strength and pure heart. She followed Buddhist beliefs, and her peaceful nature was reflected in everything she did. In the years leading up to her passing, she worked tirelessly, hoping to save enough to one day own a small house with a garden—a place where she could find tranquility and nurture the things she loved.
Julie passed away on the morning of Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Maryland. On her way to work, she suffered a cardiac event due to a pulmonary embolism. She was 60 years old. Julie was never married and had no children.
She was born in Taichung, Taiwan, on November 16, 1964, the eldest of three siblings, including Fred and me. The entire Chu family immigrated to the United States in the summer of 1980 and settled in Houston, Texas. Julie later attended and graduated from the University of Houston with a B.B.A. in Management Information Systems.
Julie moved to Maryland in 2020, and together, we looked after our aging mother until her passing in July 2021. She then agreed to stay in Maryland to be near me, so that we could look out for one another. In these final years, she dreamed of saving enough to own a small house with a garden, a goal that I wanted to help her achieve. But ultimately, she left too soon.
I have always felt that my sister was a simple person with a troubled but beautiful soul. She embodies the age-old story of life’s constant struggle and the unwavering persistence until the very end. Her passing has left a profound void in my life. I deeply wish I had more time with her to do more for her.
My brother Fred and I are now looking to honor Julie’s memory in a way that reflects her values and dreams. We are raising funds to support memorial services and to secure a niche in a columbarium in Houston, Texas, so that she will be next to our mother. This will give Julie a peaceful resting place and allow family and friends to gather and remember her in accordance with her Buddhist beliefs. We are taking our time to find the right place, ensuring it is a fitting tribute to her gentle spirit.
Fred and I will ensure that the expenses are fully funded, but we would like all of Julie's friends to have the opportunity to be included in this journey.
Please join us to honor her memory.
-Mike
P. S. Please also say a few kind words and light a candle at Julie's orbituary at
Updates:
Aug 19: I received my Sister's ashes from Thibadeau Mortuary Service in Gaithersburg.
Aug 24: Thanks to Rachel Tu of California to initiate a Buddhist service chant at the Maitreya Buddhist Institute in Fremont, California. See pix.
Aug 30: We have selected the American Bodhi Center in Hampstead, Texas to be Julie's final resting place. Julie used to visit Jade Buddha Temple, associated with the center, while in Houston.
Sept 7: Fred and I have paid for a niche in the American Bodhi Center, with service for the interment to be held on Friday, September 26, 2025.