Elsie Fay Kan Kwan

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Elsie Fay Kan Kwan in Calgary on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the age of 88 years. Elsie was born in Canton, China in October 1936 and was very close to her older sister Chiung Hsiu and younger brother Shum Yin. They have very fond memories of growing up together. She lived with her siblings and extended family while her mother joined her father in Cuba, having 3 more children: Nicolas, Isabel and Humberto. Elsie married our dad King (Jim) Wah Kwan in July 1957 in Hong Kong and immigrated to Shaunavon Saskatchewan where they raised their three children: Fred, Dave and Joyce. Elsie and King were restaurant owners and ran the B.C Café, then Star Café until 1982 before selling and moving to Calgary when King retired. Here she worked as a drycleaning presser until her retirement. Elsie was a very successful and active gardener and loved to play Mah Jong with her friends in Chinatown, even moving to Clover Living (which is a block away from the two Mah Jong establishments she frequented) in 2016. In 2022 she moved to Wing Kei supportive living, and just recently transferred to long term care at same until her passing. Elsie will be remembered for her love of life and generosity. She was quick to greet you with a smile, laugh, or joke. This was very evident every time her children and grandchildren came to visit; she was very cherished by all who knew her. Elsie will be lovingly remembered by her son Fred Kwan, daughter Joyce (Alan) Whitnack; grandchildren Staci and Eric Whitnack, Tegan, Braela, and Lexynn Kwan. She is also survived by her sister Chiung Hsiu and one nephew and three nieces of Vancouver; brother Shum Yin (Lai Ping Wan), brother Nicolas, sister Isabel (Mark), brother Humberto, and two nieces and one nephew of Los Angeles, California. She was predeceased by her husband King Wah Kwan (2001) and her son Dave Kwan (2008). A Viewing will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Elsie’s name may be made to Alzheimer Calgary through their website at https://www.alzheimercalgary.ca/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate-now.