Xiuhong Shelley Li

Xiuhong Shelley Li of Belmont, MA passed away suddenly at MGH after an extended illness.  She is survived by her mother, Wang Yuzhen, father Li Zongbai, husband Qi  Zhu, son Mark Zhu, daughter Kathleen Zhu, and nephews Jeff and Jimmy Gao. 

Shelley was born in Guangdong, China and attended Guiyang Medical University  before receiving a WHO fellowship to conduct research at the Australian Army  Malaria Research Unit with the Army First Field Hospital. She was invited to  take part in the malaria control program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of  Research before moving to Deaconess Hospital in Boston. Shelley took great  pride for her pioneering contributions to the development of malaria bioassays  for Artemisinin. 

She was a dedicated wife, mother, sister, and daughter. Shelley was most proud  of raising her daughter, Kathleen, and son Mark. She rejoiced in their  achievements and shared in their struggles. Shelley cared for her sister, Shirley  Yunhong Li, when Shirley battled illness. Shelley then became a surrogate  mother to her nephews Jeff and Jimmy upon her sister’s passing. When Shelley  became ill her husband, Qi, devotedly cared for her, coordinating every detail of  her complex medical care. Shelley’s mother was able to visit nearly every day  giving Shelley massages and cooking fresh vegetables from the backyard garden. 

Shelley had an adventurous spirit and loved all things beautiful. She traveled to  all the continents and relished the unique culture and sights at every location. She  was an amateur photographer and took drawing classes in the months before her  passing. She loved soaking in nature’s beauty. Shelley especially loved seeing  animals in nature and carefully growing flowers and plants of her own.

 At the family's request the funeral services will be private.

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