Li-Hsien Fan

1966-2017

“All that is remembered in our hearts will be remembered forever”

“Made in Taiwan” was Li-Hsien's response when asked about her Chinese heritage. Her parents were from mainland China and had evacuated to Taiwan with the Nationalist Government in 1949. As a child in Montreal, she attended French school until they attempted to impose on her a French name. Her parents strongly felt that her name Li-Hsien was a vital link to her heritage and to deny that was anathema to them. She was enrolled at Trafalgar School for Girls where she excelled and took prizes in writing, debating and public speaking.

Li-Hsien continued on to Marianopolis College, McGill University and the University of Toronto where she received her MA in East Asian Studies. She first met her partner Philip Cheong at Marianopolis in 1983 and while at McGill would joke that if neither of them found a partner, they would end up with each other. The rest is history as they say.

Like many Montrealers, she made the move to Toronto first to pursue graduate studies and then to make the city home. After graduation, she found work that appealed to her deep sense of social responsibility and public welfare. At the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, she worked on the Imagine programme which encouraged corporations to give one percent of their profits to charities. She moved to the University of Toronto where she worked as a Senior Development Officer. In the new millennium, her career led her to the finance field and ultimately to TD Waterhouse.

Li-Hsien was a den mother to many of her friends and colleagues who adored her generosity of spirit, strong principals, humour and wit. She had a contagious smile, was an avid reader and a pure loving soul. She attracted admirers and friends like bees to nectar. Li-Hsien was passionate about life and had a profound sense of social conscience and justice and cared deeply for animal welfare.

At fifty years young, she was taken far too soon and will be sorely missed by her partner of more than 25 years, family, many friends and colleagues. Before departing this world, her final comforting words to us were "all that is remembered in our hearts will be remembered forever."

Visitation will take place at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home, 467 Sherbourne Street, on Friday, March 3 from 6 to 8 pm.

A Solemn Requiem Mass will take place on Saturday, March 4 at 10:30 am at St. Thomas Anglican Church on Huron Street.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Toronto Cat Rescue.