Janice K Wong

Janice Wong, age 90, of Chicago, IL, passed away on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at Ignite Medical Resort of McHenry, IL. Born on December 22, 1933, in Naa Fuk Village (那伏村) in the Xinhui District of Jiangmen City (新会区江门市), Guangdong Province, China, she was the second of five children to Bing Hong and Kim Sui (nee Eng) Koe.

Janice had a joyful childhood growing up in China; she attended grade school through high school near her village and went on to teach elementary school in her village. She met her future husband, Jen Toy (Tom), in the village where they became friends. Janice immigrated to Brandon, Manitoba, Canada with her mother to join her father in 1955. Tom’s family immigrated to the United States settling in Evansville, Indiana where he commenced a long-distance courtship with Janice. Finally, she relocated to Evansville where she and Tom married in December 1957. They welcomed their first son, Timmy, in August 1958.

The family relocated to Chicago and settled in the Uptown neighborhood, where Janice and Tom owned and operated a Chinese restaurant on Lawrence Avenue. Their second son, Terry, was born in January 1962. Janice became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1963 and in 1968 they moved the family to Rogers Park. After selling the restaurant, she worked as a server at China Doll, as well as other local restaurants in the area, forming lasting friendships with colleagues and customers alike.

Janice had a strong passion for cooking mouth-watering Chinese cuisine and hosting dinners for family and friends. She had a green thumb, tending to indoor plants and outdoor vegetables alike; and often using produce from her own garden to make exquisite homemade dishes. When she wasn’t behind the kitchen stove, she loved traveling with her family. Together, they took numerous road trips across the country, especially to visit her parents in Brandon and visiting other areas of Canada and the US. Though not fond of fish, Janice often joined her husband and fish-loving sons on fishing trips in the Chicago area and up to Wisconsin.

Janice always put others first. She helped sponsor her two sisters, Eva and Poy, to immigrate to the U.S. She made sure her loved ones were well-fed, warmly dressed, and cared for with traditional Chinese remedies whenever they were ill.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents and her loving husband of over 66 years, Tom.

Janice is survived by her two sons, Tim (Lela) Wong and Terry (Betty) Wong; her adored grandchildren, Tina Lee (Matthew Thomas) Wong, Tyler Ko (Allie Hussain-Wong) Wong, Samantha Ko (Jack) Wong-Hoffman and Zachary Ko Wong; her four beloved siblings, Poy Koe, Norman (Alice) Koe, Richard Koe, and Eva (Kaan) Chin. She is further survived by other relatives and friends.

A visitation for Janice will be held on Friday, November 8th, 2024 from 9:00-11:00am at Drake and Son Funeral Home (5303 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL) with funeral services beginning at 11:00 am. Burial at Rosehill Cemetery will immediately follow.

Fond memories of Janice may be expressed at www.drakeandsonfuneralhome.com