As a Chinese international student who has been studying and living in the United States since high school, I consider myself an ambassador bridging the two cultures.
I am always interested in exploring how some traditional Chinese cultural practices are being practiced here in the United States. During my last quarter at Stanford University, I had the chance to explore how Chinese immigrants preserve traditions surrounding death, remembrance, and family while adapting to a different cultural environment.
Funeral practices are often deeply personal, yet they also reveal broader stories about identity, migration, and cultural continuity. Through this documentary, I wanted to explore not only how Chinese funeral traditions are practiced in the Bay Area today, but also why they continue to matter across generations.
To Be Remembered (记忆归处) follows four individuals whose experiences offer different perspectives on Chinese funeral culture in the San Fransico Bay Area, one of the largest places for Chinese immigrants here in the United States.
Community Historian David Lei provides historical and cultural context, explaining the meaning behind Chinese funeral rituals and ancestor veneration.
Zeng Zhuoran, former president of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, shares the story of transporting his father’s remains from Hong Kong to California and reflects on the importance of maintaining family connections after death.
Lisa Coppola, the former director of the Green Street Memorial Band, discusses the unique tradition of how a now white-dominant funeral band blends Chinese and Western influences, and concerns about traditions that may be fading over time.
Sandra, a second-generation Chinese immigrant, reflects on losing her mother and the importance of teaching her children about their ancestors, family history, and Chinese identity.
Together, their stories examine memory, loss, and the ongoing effort to preserve cultural traditions for future generations.
