Verna Roberta Tam

Verna was born on November 5, 1929 in Victoria, British Columbia (Canada) to Lee Heme Woo and Chow Yuen Chum as the youngest child in a family of eleven children.

Verna was a devoted wife to Timothy Chi-Tin Tam (August 8, 1927 – October 16, 2024), and a loving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and aunt. Verna and Timothy met in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) in 1959 after Timothy was invited by a Canadian church association to be an itinerant preacher there for four months. They were married on April 8, 1961 at Chinese United Church in Vancouver.

Verna was also part of a large and close family in Canada. She grew up alongside her ten brothers and sisters, who all predeceased her: John, Mary, Anne, Ruth, Maye, Roland, Ora, Daisy, Sylvia and Rose.

Notably, Verna belonged to the seventh generation of the Lee clan – a significant and historic Chinese lineage that stretches back far beyond any single lifetime.

As a lifelong Christian, Verna regularly attended and supported Chinese Christian churches in Victoria (Canada), Vancouver (Canada) and San Francisco (United States). Verna was a member of Chinese United Church in Vancouver, and she was also a member of and was very involved with Chinese United Methodist Church in San Francisco’s Chinatown where Timothy had been the pastor for almost 25 years (1968 – 1992). At Chinese United Methodist Church, Verna was part of the Women’s Fellowship and the Chinese Choir, and she also helped manage the floral arrangements for Sunday church services, among other activities. Verna was also bilingual in Cantonese Chinese and English, which allowed her to easily communicate and interact with all members of her church’s congregations.

Outside of church, Verna was a homemaker and she also worked as a secretary at Bank of America and non-profit organizations. Additionally, Verna was a talented vocalist, as she enjoyed singing in her church choirs and during Sunday church services. Verna also liked reading, flowers and listening to Christian music.

Passing on Good Friday, a day of reflection and faith, brings a special meaning to Verna’s journey – one of love, sacrifice and peace. Those who knew Verna find comfort in the belief that her spirit rests in grace. Verna will be remembered as kind, caring, devoted, faithful and always generous.

Verna is survived by her two sons (and spouses) Paul Andrew Tam (Rhonda Lee Kwok) and Stephen Andrew Tam (Alicia Tze-Fong Chen), by her four grandsons Wesley, Lansing, Ian and Ethan, and by her many nephews and nieces and their families in Canada and the United States.

A Celebration of Life / funeral service will be held at Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park (1000 El Camino Real, Colma, California, 94014) on May 2, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. A bereavement meal will be held afterwards.

Flowers can be arranged and sent through All Season Florist & Gifts (620 Kearny Street, San Francisco, California, 94108, 415-956-7878, www.allseasonfloristsf.com). Memorial donations can also be made to Chinese United Methodist Church (920 Washington Street, San Francisco, California, 94108, 415-981-8408, www.cumcsf.org)