Xiujuan Yu Funeral Fund

On Saturday night, January 21, 2023, my aunt Xiujuan Yu fell victim to a mass shooting at the Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California. What was meant to be a night out celebrating the Lunar New Year with friends ended up being a devastating and life-changing event for my family.

After days of uncertainty, anxiety, and waiting in worry, we received the news that my aunt was indeed among the deceased at the incident. This sudden tragedy has struck my family, and despite our best attempts to mourn for her, we graciously ask the community for help in raising funds for her funeral at this time.

Having immigrated to the United States in the early 2010s, she and her family have done their best to make a life for themselves here, leaving their past lives behind in China to craft a new future for their little family. My aunt was in the middle of crafting that future with her husband and children, and now to have that journey suddenly interrupted is heartbreaking. She will never be able to witness what she dreamed of for all these years.

Among her three children, my two twin cousins are currently attending California State Universities pursuing majors in Sports Medicine and Kinesiology. My aunt and uncle have worked tirelessly to support their daughters' livelihood and education, working odd jobs and taking on labor-intensive occupations to make ends meet. The family has just been able to get by with the support of both parents, but now with one of them no longer in the picture and the steep cost of unanticipated funeral services awaiting them, we have deemed it necessary to reach out to the community for assistance.

Personally, this still doesn't feel real. It happened all too quickly-- we never even got a chance to properly say goodbye. Despite this hardship, my family is doing all we can to heal and ensure my aunt receives a proper burial. We appreciate every bit of support, and a donation of any size would mean the world to us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the rest of the families afflicted by this traumatic event. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and may we all heal and find peace during this tumultuous time.