Dorothy Lum

Dorothy Lum passed away peacefully in her home with her loved ones on January 13, 2024. She succumbed to liver cancer at 90 years old.

Dorothy was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on April 6, 1933 to Shinsei and Goze Nakata who had immigrated from Okinawa, Japan. She was the youngest of 4 children, with older brother Hitoshi and sisters Michi and Hide. She moved from Hawaii to settle in Los Angeles in her 20s where she met her husband Peter Lum, and had a daughter. She was widowed in 1965, and remained single the remainder of her life.

She lived in Monterey Park, CA where she raised and supported her daughter through college, in Diamond Bar, CA where she enjoyed early retirement, and Irvine, CA where she had her final years. Dorothy enjoyed working at Chevron Chemical Corporation, but was very excited to retire at the age of 63 to begin a new chapter of her life: Grandma(!) taking care of her young grandsons. Dorothy also enjoyed travel, especially family trips with her mom, sister, and daughter’s family. She went on countless camping trips to various national parks, saw many attractions in the US, and visited far away destinations like Australia, Costa Rica, Denmark & Ireland.

Dorothy had a rich, full life and her legacy lives on through her daughter Arlene Lum, Son-in-law Khoa Luu and Grandsons Brenton Luu, Austin Luu and Kyle Luu, and is survived as well by extended family members in California and Hawaii. Her spirit lives on through them and she will always be treasured for the loving beautiful person she was here, and will be in the next life in heaven.

In lieu of flowers or trees, if you feel the wish to donate anything for Dorothy, the causes she always supported were public radio KPCC.org and of course her political party Democrats.org.