Moon Au was raised in Toisan, China. Born in 1922, she was the “fourth daughter” of 10 children. In 1955, Moon was living in Hong Kong when her cousin arranged a meeting with Nee Lung (Fred) Au, a widower from Sacramento. They agreed to marry. She had never traveled outside of Asia before; shortly after the wedding, she was on her way to California.
The couple settled into a brick home that Fred and one of his sons built on 8th Avenue, off Riverside Blvd. They were one of the first Asian families to live in the neighborhood.
Fred and his brothers owned a Chinese restaurant near the Old Fairgrounds and Oak Park Theatre. He was the head cook. One of Fred’s sons owned a grocery store across the street from the restaurant.
During the day, Moon cared for a granddaughter, Sue (Au) Chinn. Then, she’d work the graveyard shift at Del Monte Cannery. Because of her seniority, cannery management made her “boss over other workers,” says Moon.
She became a naturalized citizen in 1962 and embraced her new life in Sacramento. The family remembers the weekly seven-course dinners and home-made dim sum. The Au’s Chinese New Year celebrations were notorious – drawing almost100 friends and family each year. She loved playing mahjong with friends at the Ong Ko Met Association and at her home, taking casino buses to Reno and Tahoe, tending her Chinese garden, and fishing with Fred. “When I went fishing with them, they tied me to a tree so I wouldn’t fall in the water,” recalls Sue.
Fred was 30 years older than Moon and was a generous husband. Starting in 1965, he brought over all of her family members. Most settled in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In 2020, Moon moved into Greenhaven Terrace. She wasn’t thrilled about leaving her home but was willing to give GT a try. During the COVID 19 lockdown, she was unhappy because she couldn’t leave her apartment. Meals were delivered to her door, and she had to eat alone. Moon had to stand on her balcony to talk with family; they stood in the parking lot below her apartment to converse with her.
Life is more enjoyable now. Moon is a social butterfly and has many friends at GT. She enjoys playing bingo at ACC and watching classic Chinese movies on TV. Her family lives nearby, so she gets frequent visits from her five grandchildren and extended family members.
According to Sue, Moon has had a good long life because she’s feisty, mentally strong, and strong-willed.
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