MPR is reporting that Leeann Chin has passed away. The empress of the local Chinese restaurant chain bearing her name, apparently died on Wednesday in Seattle, due to complications from a long-term illness.

Whether or not you were a fan of cream cheese wontons, you have to admire this woman who was born in Guangzhou, China, came to Minnesota, raised five children, and built a successful restaurant company along the way. Many an older food snob could say that their first fried rice, was her fried rice.