Mi Wan Chan

Mi Wan Chan, age 88, passed on Sunday, November 29, 2015 at Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston. She was born in Taishan, Guangdong Province, China on October 15, 1927. Her life was disrupted by the Chinese Communist take-over and revolution in the 1950s. She spent over one year separated from husband and young children in a “re-education” camp in Communist China before escaping with her boys to Hong Kong. After an arduous two-year vetting process by the U.S. State Department, the family was admitted to America as refugees and arrived in Chicago, Illinois on New Year’s Day, 1956. Although a primary school teacher in China, “Mimi” never achieved true proficiency in English, working diligently as first a milliner, then as a seamstress, providing much-needed additional financial support for her four young children. Her life was devoted to her children, ensuring they had the proper education to achieve the American dream. She was most proud to witness their graduations from the University of Chicago three times, Harvard University once, Northwestern University twice, and Columbia University once. In 1982, she joined her beloved late husband, Kwok Gee Chan, in establishing their dream restaurant, “On The Tao,” in Rogers Park, Chicago. Awarded three stars by The Chicago Tribune, Mimi was renowned for her pure fruit sorbets. Left to honor Mimi and remember her incredible life are four children: Shu Jin (Sharleen), Shu Boung (Yvonne), Shu Yan (Anne), and Margie; five grandchildren: David (Tiffany), Mark, Lia, Tiana, and Katherine; two great-grandchildren: Caleb and Spencer; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Saturday, December 12, 2015 from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Drake & Son, 5303 N Western, Chicago; funeral services will be Sunday, December 13, 10:00 AM, at Drake & Son with internment following at Rosehill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Chinese American Service League, http://www.caslservice.org/donate/ “in memory of Mi Wan Chan.”