Siok "May" Bwee Tjoa Obituary (1936 - 2024)

Siok "May" Bwee Tjoa was born in Solo, Indonesia on May 4th, 1936 and passed away peacefully on February 14th, 2024, after a long illness. Born the only daughter among three brothers to parents who owned a batik factory, she grew up speaking multiple languages and with a love of art, earning the nickname "The Rose of Solo" in her youth. During college in Jakarta, she met her future husband Kim Lay Tjoa, with whom she would emigrate to the United States, have two children (Grace and James), open a family-operated restaurant in Seattle's International District, relocate it to the Maple Leaf neighbourhood, and become deeply involved in Our Lady of Lake Catholic church after they retired. Siok and Kim spent their lives side-by-side for fifty-seven years, until his death in 2021. Siok loved clouds and seashells and greenery, creating beautiful photographs of the sky and a slice of heaven in her garden. Despite her petite stature, The Rose of Solo had a stem of steel. She steered her family into not only launching their own business in a new country but toward educating themselves on how to navigate the real estate and financial markets. It is no surprise her children ended up with careers in both of these industries. Siok's grandchildren remember her as a whirlwind of energy who was always trying to feed everyone whether in a restaurant or at home (often with pear apples from her garden). Grace and James were parents themselves before their mom stopped sending them home with stacks of Tupperware containing enough food for multiple meals. After closing their business, The Java Restaurant, Siok and Kim devoted much of their time and energy toward serving their parish, tending their garden, and always being available to watch their grandkids, usually sending them home with shells or stuffed animals. Siok is survived by her daughter Grace Suarez (Gerard), her son James Tjoa (Jeanne), and her grandchildren Alexis and Megan Suarez, and Ryan and Lilia Tjoa. She is preceded in death by her brothers Go Tik Swan (aka K.R.T. Hardjonagoro) and Go Tik Hong, and survived by her brother Go Tik Hauw.