Obituary

In the end we ended up writing an obituary about one of out friends in class
so here it is :D

Ming Kit Minerva Yu-Maurer, aged 29, passed away on the 4^th of April 2026 at Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth, after losing her battle with cancer. She has been able to accomplish so much in her lifetime, though she has been taken from us much too soon.

Minerva was born on the 12^th of November 1997, at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, to parents Stephanie and Vincent Yu. She moved to Perth in the year 2000 when she was three years old, and grew up with her three older brothers, Ryan, John and Ming. Minerva was known as Mini to her friends, and Kit to her brothers. She grew up in Canningvale, and although her brothers used to tease her, they were still very protective and looked out her. Her fondest memories of growing up with her brothers included building Lego and playing Pokémon with them, as well as watching anime and movies together.

Minerva attended Queen of Apostles Primary School from 2002 to 2010, and achieved fantastic academic as well as sporting results. She received a Champion Girl medal in athletics, and a Runner-Up Champion Girl medal from a swimming carnival. She later attended Leeming Senior High School in 2011, and she continued with her outstanding results. She received many excellence awards, and although there were many high expectations after the success of her brothers, she easily went above and beyond. She graduated from Leeming Senior High School in 2015, achieving an ATAR of 99.2 which earned her a spot in the elite ‘99 club’, as well as receiving the school dux award.

Minerva then went on to study engineering at Curtin University in 2016. She completed a four-year course and graduated in 2019, receiving a Bachelor of Engineering. She began work at Western Power for a year, but later moved on to help redesign the new Domestic and International Terminals at Perth Airport.

Minerva loved to travel and explore new places. She visited Japan in 2008, and this was the first time she and her brother Ming had gone on an aeroplane trip without their parents. She also visited South Korea and Taiwan in 2009, Singapore in 2012, and Thailand in 2022. She visited Hong Kong yearly to visit her family, and it was one of her favourite places in the world. Minerva has also travelled around Australia, visiting places such as Monkey Mia, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury, Albany, Geraldton, Kalbarri and Shark Bay.

She later met her husband, Mario Maurer, when they were stuck in an elevator together in Hong Kong, in 2019. The two connected instantly, and eventually wed on the 8^th of August 2021. They spent many love-filled years together and had two children, Mary and Drew Yu-Maurer, whom they raised in Perth.

Minerva took part in a lot of volunteer work, such as helping out at an animal shelter and organising events with the Curtin University Committee. Minerva was always willing to help out anyone in need, and was highly respected and valued among her peers. She was an avid reader, and in her spare time she enjoyed watching anime, listening to music, and spending time with her friends.

Minerva used to be quite quiet and reserved in primary school, but she later became more confident and outgoing in her high school years. Minerva always aspired to be the very best she could be, and always strove to do what was right. She committed herself to making a difference in people’s lives and making the world a better place, even if by only the smallest of actions. She always brightened up other people’s days, and was very sweet and compassionate, going out of her way to help others. Minerva was very energetic and enthusiastic, especially about things she was passionate about, and her eagerness was extremely infectious and uplifting. She was very resilient and never let anything get her down, always smiling. She was very hardworking and responsible, as well as very loyal and trustworthy. She was very outgoing and fun to be around, drawing people to her with her sunny personality and natural charisma.

Minerva was diagnosed with cancer in 2024. This was a shocking and distressing revelation, but she bore the news bravely. She was treated with chemotherapy, which was initially very successful. She battled cancer for two years, but eventually the chemotherapy had little effect when the cancer became more resistant, and then there was nothing to be done. All throughout these difficult past few years, Minerva remained optimistic and still went out of her way to help others, keeping everyone smiling. She hardly ever complained, which was remarkable for someone who had to endure so much, but she accepted that there was nothing she could do and made the most of the short time she had left. She was saddened by the thought of leaving her loved ones, and so she spent as much time with them as she could. When the time came, she died peacefully next to her husband’s side, which is all she ever wanted.

Funeral arrangements are being made by her friends and family with the aid of Simplicity Funerals, and will be announced at a later date. Those who are interested can contact the funeral home for more information, or any of her friends and family. In lieu of flowers, we would ask that you donate to the Cancer Council Australia to fund more research into finding a cure for this disease.

On behalf of Minerva, we would like to thank everyone who has been involved in her life. There are too many names to list here, but I know she would especially have liked to thank her family and friends for the roles they have played in her life. Thank you to Stephanie and Vincent Yu, for raising such a wonderful person and standing by her all of her life, and to her three brothers, for always being there even if they did tease her on occasion. I know that Mario will miss his wife dearly, just as we all will, but I know how much Minerva cherished their relationship. Minerva’s biggest regret was not being able to see her children grow up, but I know that she will be watching over them; she loved them more than anything. I would also just like to thank all of the doctors and specialists for everything they have done to help in her battle with cancer, and for making her as comfortable as possible for the end. I would also like to thank Simplicity Funerals for being so understanding and helping us pay tribute to Minerva the way she would have wanted to be remembered. Minerva was a loving mother, wife, and a true friend; she will be remembered by all who knew her.