Yuqin Cheng, of Boston, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 7, 2026.

Yuqin was born in Dangtu, Anhui Province, China. She had an older sister, Yueqin Cheng, with whom she remained close until Yueqin passed away in 2020.

Around age 20, Yuqin left to find work in Shanghai. There, she met her husband, Hanxing Lu, through friends. They married in 1955 in Shanghai. They had three children, Ying Lu, Yun (Lucy) Lu, and Yong Lu, born in 1958, 1960, and 1962, respectively.

Hanxing was a naval officer, so the family moved often. The family lived in Dangtu, Xiamen, Shanghai, Ningbo, and Hefei, China. In 1978, Yuqin and Hanxing settled back in Hanxing’s hometown, Luhe, today a district of Nanjing, China. They remained there until Hanxing’s death, at age 62, in 1987.

Yuqin’s far-ranging travels, however, were just beginning. Yuqin was blessed with grandchildren, Xiaofeng Zhou, Lisa Jing, Yingting Lu, and Lydia Jing. Yuqin moved to where her grandchildren were, playing a major role in helping raise them.

Yuqin first came to the United States in 1992. Yuqin joined her daughter, Lucy, son-in-law, Jin, and toddler granddaughter, Lisa, in West Lafayette, Indiana. While Lucy and Jin were completing their graduate studies at Purdue University, Yuqin devoted significant time to caring for and bonding with her granddaughter.

In November 1996, Yuqin moved permanently to the U.S., after the birth of her granddaughter, Lydia, to Lucy and Jin. The family lived in Washington state, moved to Medfield, Massachusetts in 1997, and settled in Boston (West Roxbury) in 2002.

Yuqin was a major fixture in her grandchildren’s childhoods. She was very well-known to her grandchildren's friends and family friends as “wai puo” (外婆)—the Chinese term for maternal grandmother—always doting on, feeding, and keeping up with them all.

Yuqin also kept in touch with family and friends back home in China. In 2006, Yuqin made her last trip to China, staying with her sister in Dangtu. Her children, grandchildren, and other relatives would also make the long journey to Boston to visit Yuqin over the years.

Yuqin was blessed with two great-grandchildren, Leon Zhou (born in 2018) and Nicholas Jing Butterworth (born in 2024). Yuqin loved meeting Nick during his visits to Boston from New York. She also loved watching her great-grandchildren grow in daily videos and photos.

Yuqin is survived by her children, Ying Lu (Xiao Zhou) of Wuhu, China, Lucy Lu (Jin Jing) of Boston, and Yong Lu (Haiyan Xu) of Ottawa, Ontario; grandchildren Xiaofeng Zhou (Juanjuan Zhang), Lisa Jing (Don Butterworth), Lydia Jing (Atticus Rex), and Yingting Lu; great-grandchildren, Leon Zhou and Nick Butterworth; five nephews and nieces; and countless family and friends.

Our family will profoundly miss wai puo. We will always remember Yuqin as our strong, loving, grounded, and extraordinarily generous matriarch.

Yuqin's funeral services will be private.

Please note: the "plant a tree" or "memorial trees" option is the website's default setting, not the family's selection. To honor Yuqin, we would love for you to share any photos, videos, or memories, either in the guest book or by e-mail to Lucy or Lisa. Thank you so much for your love and support.