Chan Gee Sheung Chu Lee

“Chan” to her friends, Mom, Mrs. Lee, Grandma, Missy Lee, Poh Poh, and great Grandma to her family was born in Sun Wui, China, the 2nd oldest of four children. She was preceded in death by her husband, On Lee, son David Lee, daughter Susan Lee, parents Yam Chan and Jun Siu Yeung, parents-in-law Lee Tung How and Lee Chuen Ping, Brother Chen Sui Cheong, Sister Ming Zhen Huang, brother-in-law Guan Hou Lee, and sister-in-laws Sing Farr Look and Lee Gay Hoi.

Mom will be lovingly missed by daughters Carol Schellinck (Ed), Sally Duncan (Doug), Nancy Trudeau (Dennis), and sons Robert Lee (Cheryl), Douglas Lee (Laurinda) and Dan Lee (Helene) and also by twelve grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, sister Xiu Qiong Chen and her husband Xue Huang, and Brother-in-law Ying Ren Huang. Along with many nieces and nephews and their families.

In an arranged marriage, Chan and Dad On Lee were wed in 1948 in China. Her husband left for Canada to work before the birth of their first child. Mom immigrated to Canada in 1953 to join her husband, leaving her two-year-old daughter in the care of her mother-in-law until they were able to immigrate to Canada as well. Once in Canada, she worked alongside her husband and father-in-law at the Royal Hotel in Chilliwack for many years while raising eight children. Mom realized that it was going to take more than working in a kitchen for someone to take care of such a large family. In 1972, they purchased property on Airport Road in Chilliwack and started their own Chinese restaurant, Canton Garden which they operated seven days a week. This was also the year that she had a chance to finally visit her mother back in China after almost 20 years!

Family was very important to Chan and over the years she and Dad sponsored several relatives to immigrate from China to Canada.

After the death of her husband in 1986, Chan continued to work and manage her restaurant until her retirement in 1996. After 43 years in Chilliwack, she decided to make the move to Vancouver where two of her children resided.

In Vancouver, Mom enjoyed Tai Chi, restaurant hopping with her Chinese gang, gardening, watching cooking shows, cooking, knitting and sewing. A very experienced seamstress, Mom made many outfits for her daughter Susan as well as knitted “Cowichan” sweaters for everyone.

Mom’s last five years of her life was spent bedridden with the last four years residing at Holy Family Care Home. Even though she was disabled and in pain, she maintained her kind, gentle and good natured outlook that touched many. The Family was blessed to be able to celebrate her 95th birthday with her until passing and she can now rest in eternal peace.

Special thanks to Nena at Salve Healthcare Services and her caregiver team for their many years of compassionate and devoted care, especially Lorena, Maria, and Concordia. Thank you as well to all the staff at Holy Family Care Home for all the assistance and support provided to Mom during her time there.

Funeral services will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be dedicated to her memory to the local Canadian Red Cross at https://www.redcross.ca/in-your-community/british-columbia?form