LaVay Lau Obituary

LAVAY LAU LaVay Lau passed away peacefully on October 20, 2023, at the age of 90. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on March 24, 1933, to Chun Kwong Lau and Pui Lan Chang Lau and was the second of four children. LaVay was a graduate of Sacred Hearts Academy and attended the University of Hawaii for two years before transferring to Boston University where she received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in social work. Thereafter, she earned her PhD with honors from Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. For the first several years of her career, LaVay worked for the Department of Health at the Diamond Head Mental Health Center and worked her way up to senior psychologist. Sometime after this, she spent several years in Hong Kong working for a child adoption agency where she refined her Cantonese conversational skills, not realizing how much that would impact the next stage of her career, which was her private practice. LaVay's commitment to her practice and culture led to her prominence as a clinical psychologist among the Chinese immigrant community. She had a passion for helping the less fortunate and was extremely generous and kind to countless individuals whom she met through her practice. In her spare time, LaVay enjoyed traveling the world and especially enjoyed the European countries and India. LaVay is survived by her brothers, Merton (Claire) and Lester (Gloria), along with nephews Keith (Jasmin), Kent (Gwen), Jon, and Randy (Serena), nieces Stacey (Ian) Zwicker, Lisa Lau, Allison (Ryan) Mau, Karen (Michael) Lau-Baptist, and Cynthia Lau, two grandnephews, nine grandnieces, and one great-grandniece. She was preceded in death by her brother, Timothy (Violet). LaVay had several dear friends whom she considered family. She was well-loved by these dear friends and many others, along with her family, and she will be dearly missed. A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at Diamond Head Mortuary Chapel, 529 18th Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii, with Visitation at 10:00am and Services at 11:30am. Burial will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at Diamond Head Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Sacred Hearts Academy. Arrangements Provided By: Diamond Head Mortuary Chapel