Fung Lin Chan

Fung Lin Chan (née Tam) was born in Hoi Ping, China on October 27th, 1930. During the 1930s and 40s, life was hard but Fung Lin’s family survived the turmoil of life in southern China and Hong Kong. As a young girl and the oldest among her siblings, she made several forays from Hong Kong into Japanese -occupied territory, buying and selling goods that helped to support her family and searching for news of family members who remained in Sei Yap (the 4 counties). Her harrowing stories of those times and her adventures riveted her children and family members at many family get togethers.

In the aftermath of WWII life in Hong Kong was difficult, but Fung Lin thrived nevertheless, establishing with her husband Choy Wong Chan (who predeceased her in 2017) a fabric business that they operated for decades in the heart of Yau Ma Tei. Family members fortunate enough to have lived in Hong Kong at that time or to have visited before Fung Lin emigrated to Canada in the 1970s saw a different world populated by strong, hard-working people like her. That world spawned many stories with which she entertained and awed her extended family until shortly before her passing at the age of 92.

Fung Lin was warm, straight-forward and smart, while in Canada she made many friends with whom she went travelling, exercising and going for dim sum. She enjoyed family gatherings. Memories of family get-togethers are cherished by all of us. Fung Lin’s life was a life of love and devotion to her children and family. She is greatly loved and will be missed dearly by all of us.

Fung Lin was predeceased by her brother Tom and is survived by her daughter Ivy Hallam (Craig), sons Ronald Chan (Rose) and Roland Chan (Lena), brother Hon Tam (Annie), sister Winnie W.Y. Wiggs (Blake), sister-in-law Tammy K.S. Tam, and her four grandchildren - Derek, Wendy (Cliff), Vincent and Jacqueline and three great grandchildren (Lindsay, Reese and Marlowe).

Fung Lin passed away peacefully surrounded by her family members on January 18th,2023. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 1 p.m. at Oceanview Funeral Home, 4900 Imperial Street, Burnaby, BC.