Obituary of Jane Yuk Chun Chan

December 5, 1938 - Macau

December 26, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

Jane Chan, beloved wife of Cherk Boi Chan, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, December 26, 2022, at the age of 84 years.

Jane was born in Macau, on December 5, 1938. In her early years, Jane moved to Hong Kong for work, before moving to Tulua, Colombia where Jane married her husband, Cherk Boi. They ran a restaurant together before immigrating to Canada in 1969. In the 1970s, Jane worked as a dishwasher at Four Seas Restaurant in Forest Lawn. From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, she worked at the Four Seasons Hotel kitchen.

From the 1990s till her retirement in the mid-2000s, she worked at Cara Operations near the airport. Through her workplaces, she has met many of her lifelong friends and attended their weddings and baby showers, giving her a connection to the new generation. Many children of Cantonese immigrants in Calgary always learnt they cannot escape that connection to Jane. She enjoyed her early years playing MJ with friends, watching Hong Kong soap operas, and exchanging VHS tapes with friends. In retirement, she was very active in volunteering with The Northeast Support Group, organizing a seniors art exhibition at the Chinese Cultural Centre, amongst numerous other outings and events.

She also very much enjoyed her seniors' exercise classes and all the new friends she met. Jane always had a passion for cooking and continued it during the COVID lockdown by partaking in cooking classes over Zoom. Technology was never a barrier to Jane if it meant staying socially engaged. Her WeChat groups were always pinging non-stop. Her most memorable vacations included visiting relatives in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Hong Kong. Also, many road trips to BC in ‘THAT’ big station wagon that had probably too many people stuffed into it. In 1998, Jane and her daughter Carthy went on their first visit to China to see where her ancestors and her husband’s family had come from, as well as seeing notable sites like the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta figures in Xian. In retirement, she took cruises to Alaska and Hawaii. She has also toured Japan, South Korea, and Europe, noting the quality of Chinese food wasn't always very good. Most recently she has been enjoying sites closer to home like Banff and Bragg Creek. A sociable and caring matriarch in our family, extended family, and friends, both new and old.

Besides her loving husband, Jane is survived by her two daughters, Carthy Chan, and Tania Chan; and two brothers, John Yu, and Allan Yu; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Jane was predeceased by her son Jose Chan, her brother Yu Yiu Tong, and two sisters Fiona Yuk To and Yu Yuk Ha.

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at McInnis & Holloway (Chapel of The Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB) on Thursday, January 5, 2022, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Funeral Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street N, Calgary, AB) on Friday, January 6, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Jane's service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.

Thank you to the compassionate staff at Foothills Medical Centre. From her first night in Emergency on December 11 to the continued medical and palliative care she received at Unit 102. If you wish, in lieu of flowers please consider donating to The Calgary Health Trust in Jane’s Memory on this webpage, Jane Chan's Donation Page for Calgary Health Foundation.

In living memory of Jane Yuk Chun Chan, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street N, Calgary, AB, T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

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