On February 6, 2025, Mary Lin Chung passed away peacefully in her home. Born in 1927 in Shantou, Swatow, China, she is survived by her daughter Amy, son Michael, and two grandchildren—Adrian and Alison Chang. Her memorial services were held on Saturday, March 8, at Old St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco, CA, and were followed by her burial at Cypress Lawn Park.
Legacy
Chung was a well-respected leader within the industry and a trailblazer in the Chinese herbal business. A devoted housewife, mother, and businesswoman, she studied at the Maryknoll College in Oregon and University of California at Berkeley. In 1959 she co-founded the Superior Trading Company with her husband Burk Chung.
Known for importing and exporting Chinese herbal products, Superior Trading Company introduced and brought in popular Asian herbal products including Haw Par Bros, Tiger Balm, and Nin Jiom Loquat Syrup to the United States. Chung was considered a pioneer for purchasing cultivated American ginseng roots in Central Wisconsin, which is now a breeding ground for the popular herb. She also is known for bringing in Korean Red Ginseng roots. She was 97 years old when she passed away.
