Elina L. Gee, 79, passed away peacefully and joined our Lord and Savior on January 6, 2026. Elina’s life was filled with kindness, grace, compassion, appreciation of beauty, love of family and friends, and gratitude for her long life, full of wonderful and varied experiences.

Elina was born on November 2, 1946, in Hong Kong to Yiu Lau and Yuk Ming Leung Lau. Her mother was playing Mahjong at the time, and before she could finish her winning hand she went into labor and gave birth to Elina right there in their home in Wan Chai. Elina grew up as the second child among her two sisters and three brothers: Sue, Rebecca, Kay, William, and Johnny. There was never a quiet moment, and they loved eating, laughing, and learning from each other. One of Elina’s favorite memories was her father taking the family to dim sum and ensuring everyone ordered their favorite dishes.

Elina attended Hennessy Road Government Primary School, then secondary school in Wan Chai. After high school she attended night school to further her education. While attending school, Elina got her first job working at Sanyo Electronics doing manufacturing work, then moving to the purchasing department. She worked there for over 10 years, making many life-long friends. In her 20s she married her first husband, Eddy Chan. Together they had 2 children: Stephanie and Eric.

Due to life challenges, Elina and Eddy separated. Elina decided to tour the US and stop by to visit her eldest sister in Tucson, AZ. While there, she was introduced to Suey Linn Gee. It was love at first sight for Suey and he immediately asked Elina out for ice cream. Eventually, Elina moved to Tucson with Stephanie and Eric. On September 19, 1982, Elina and Suey married. They operated Jerry’s Lee Ho Market for years. Later, Elina worked as a representative for Avon products and phone operator with focus in Cantonese translation for MCI, AT&T and Afni.

Suey helped Elina adjust to Tucson life by introducing her to University of Arizona Wildcat sports. Elina became a die-hard U of A football and basketball fan and cheered for her team so loud she would lose her voice. Suey and Elina also joined a bowling league where they would spare no one in their weekly competition.

In retirement Elina focused on her hobbies: cooking, traveling, watching Chinese dramas, watching her grandchildren grow, and serving the church. She learned cooking tips from her family, friends, and YouTube. She loved sharing her BBQ pork buns, egg tarts and coconut crème buns with everyone. Elina toured the world on cruises with family and friends. She loved shopping for bargains with her sisters and joking with her brothers. For years, they would have reunions and rekindle their pastimes with family meals and sibling rivalries in Mahjong.

Elina participated in weekly Chinese Bible Studies and lead the TCBC seniors’ Lok Ling group. She coordinated monthly gatherings with hearty meals and ensured to bake a different dessert each month. Over time, the Lok-Ling group doubled in size as more seniors joined for a supportive place for fellowship. She cared for her church family as her own.

In 2022, Suey passed away. Elina was heart-broken as they were married for close to 40 years. The gap was filled by her love for her grandchildren. Elina loved listening to stories of Addison’s high school antics, Devon’s bowling league wins, and Olivia’s love for clothes and makeup. She looked forward to weekend visits with Kaitlyn where she would always have a home cooked meal ready for her.

Elina received her cancer diagnosis in 2024. She kept her faith in God and supported the church and Lok-Ling group. Every Sunday, she continued to attend church watching online to listen to God's words. She stayed connected with family and friends through uplifting calls and texts. She firmly believed that God was walking with her on this journey and was comforted by prayers from her brothers and sisters in Christ.

During her final months, she shared close moments with her family. Elina enjoyed a trip to Vancouver with her children and had dim-sum reminiscent of her Hong Kong childhood. She made sure to order Stephanie and Eric their favorite dishes. She took a dip in Hawaii’s Lanikai (Heavenly) beach with her grandchildren, before God called her to her Heavenly home.

Elina leaves behind her daughter Stephanie (George), her son Eric (Jenny), and four cherished grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Addison, Devon, and Olivia.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Tucson Chinese Baptist Church, located at 2411 E. Fort Lowell Rd., Tucson, AZ. In lieu of flowers, family kindly requests a donation to Tucson Chinese Baptist Church in memory of Elina Gee. 

https://tcbcf.org/give

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/elina-gee/obituary/

Copy