Rosalie

Choy

Rosalie Choy, a devoted mother, registered nurse, and lifelong learner, passed away on November 2, 2026, at the age of 94.

A native of San Francisco, Rosalie’s early years were shaped by a unique bi-cultural journey. Sent to China as a toddler to live with her grandmother, she returned to San Francisco’s Chinatown at age five, where she tackled learning a new language and embraced a rich bi-cultural upbringing. She attended both American and Chinese language schools, eventually graduating from Commerce High School. As a teenager, she proudly performed in various cities as a member of the Old Saint Mary's Drum Corps.

Driven by a passion to help others, Rosalie attended Mary’s Help (now Seton Hospital) School of Nursing. After graduating as a Registered Nurse, she began her career at Stanford Hospital, which was then located in San Francisco. In her mid-20s, Rosalie became a member of the Roman Catholic Church, sparking a deep, lifelong devotion to her faith Through mutual friends, she met her future husband, Tommy Choy, a Korean War veteran. In 1957, the couple married and initially settled in Pittsburg, California, where Tommy managed several supermarkets and Rosalie joined Kaiser Hospital.

As they started their family, welcoming three children; Denny, Michael, and Terry. Rosalie transitioned to becoming a full-time homemaker and mother, and the family eventually moved to Milpitas, where Tommy co-founded and owned his own grocery store, United Market. Rosalie seamlessly balanced her family life with her career. Once her children were old enough to be "latchkey kids," she took refresher courses and proudly returned to her calling, working as a nurse at Santa Clara County Hospital (Valley Medical Center).

An avid traveler with a strong desire to experience new things, Rosalie and Tommy explored the globe extensively when their children were older. Maintaining timeshares in three different locations, they visited the USSR, China, Europe, Asia, and Tibet. Rosalie loved preparing for these trips by studying the rich history and culture of her destinations. Dedicated to serving her community, she also volunteered her time as a Nursing Home Ombudsman in Santa Clara County and worked with the County District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit.

Following Tommy’s passing in 1996, Rosalie eventually decided that living alone was not for her. In 2007, she moved to the Saratoga Retirement Community (SRC) to be closer to two of her sons who lived nearby. She enthusiastically immersed herself in the community, participating in various activities and helping foster a welcoming environment for residents to get to know one another. It was at SRC that she met and married Ken Hardy in 2013. The two shared a joyful chapter together, enjoying travel, long walks, and hikes until his passing in 2022.

Throughout her 94 years, Rosalie never lost her intellectual curiosity. She maintained a wide range of interests spanning history, religion, health, and finances. She stayed well-informed by reading the daily newspaper and thoroughly enjoying her work as an active investor. Her spirit, resilience, and boundless curiosity left a lasting impact on everyone she met. She will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched.