Emilia Maria Look

Ms, Emilia Maria Look went home to be with the Lord on November 24, 2023, at the ripe old age of 96. She was born in Mexico in 1927 of a wealthy Chinese merchant, Manuel Chiu, and a young Mexican woman, Mercedes Ortega. In 1931, she, along with her mother and siblings, Javier ,Carmen, and Alicia, would go back to her father’s home in China, where she would meet and join her half-brothers-and-sisters to become a large household of 14. Moving among different villages, she would become fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin, in addition to her native Spanish tongue.

Despite her father’s entrepreneurial successes and wealth, it mattered not in the face of World War ll. Emilia and her family would have their lands taken, and they endured the hardship of fleeing enemy soldiers amidst gunfire and artillery that were close enough to shower them in dirt. After the dust had settled, in 1948, Emilia would flee Shanghai with her sister Carmen back to Mexico. Soon she would meet James Look, whom she’d marry in 1951, and would bring her and her siblings to America, where she would once again learn a new language -English- and ultimately begin a new life in San Francisco.

Although Emilia lacked a formal education beyond her early schooling, she improved her skills and knowledge with adult school and eventually worked her way up from a seamstress to a supervisor role at a textile manufacturer. It is here where she would earn and save enough money alongside her husband to purchase their primary residence in Inner Richmond, San Francisco, and where she would raise her son and daughter (Adan and Lisa), and ultimately live out the remainder of her days for more than 50 years.

Known for her ebullience, warmth, and compassion, Emilia treated everyone she met with kindness and love. She was dedicated attendee of the Nineteenth Avenue Baptist Church, where she regularly served at her local soup kitchen and sang in the choir. In fact, singing was one of her greatest passions, and she will be remembered for gracing others with her angelic voice to “Ave Maria” and other opera pieces.

Emilia found contentment in God and in may of life’s simple pleasures. A passionate homemaker, she loved to  garden, cook,  and keep a clean home. She embodied the word “grandma”  by always welcoming friends and family into her humble abode and immediately setting off to cook a homey meal, whether it was fresh steak or quesadilla. She loved to sew; whether it was creating new clothes for herself or loved ones, or to fix up old ones, she would never hesitate to fire up her sewing machine and get to work. During her downtime, Emilia would either read the Bible or keep up with local and world news, or enjoy a few laughs from shows like the World’s Funniest Animals and America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Her penchant for spicy foods and love for cooking and serving led to many memorable meals, especially during times she would host enchilada parties for friends and family. While Emilia might chow down a raw jalapeno pepper for breakfast or toss a glob of hot sauce into her clam chowder, she would tone down her secret green hot sauce mix with tomatoes for the mere mortals in her midst, so that they could too enjoy her mild, red secret enchilada sauce during mealtime. And when all her dinner guests were full and laughing and enjoying themselves, in her spirit of servitude, she would begin washing the dozens of dishes and pots by hand while insisting her dinner guests sit back to enjoy the moment. 

Emilia stayed active throughout most of her life by walking to most places, whether it was to take her grandkids to the California Academy of Sciences or to buy groceries from Chinatown. She enjoyed walks in Golden Gate Park, and later loved scenic drives along Ocean Beach during her more advanced years.

Emilia is survived by her son and daughter, Adan (Bonita) and Lisa Catalda, and 3 grandchildren, Gina Caltalda, Jonathan, and Michael, and 1  great-grand-child, Jeremiah. Her legacy also lives on through her many nephews and nieces. Emilia was followed in death by her beloved sister, Carmen Hoy.

Emilia will be remembered by her friends and family for her public testament of Christ by embodying His love and servitude towards others, her warmth and ebullience, kindness and grace towards all.