Jean Chan

Jean Chan (Chinese name: 雷素珍) was born in Canton (now called Guangzhou), China on May 6, 1923. After high school and college in Canton, she became an elementary teacher there. She married Sam Chan in the summer of 1949 in Canton. She and her husband both immigrated to the United States in 1951. During the ‘50s through the ‘70s, Jean and Sam owned and operated a hand laundry in Oak Park, IL while raising three children: Carl, Rita and Albert. In addition to being a small business owner and mother, Jean also took care of her in-laws and helped sponsor all her relatives to the US who also set roots in the Chicagoland area.

In 1973 Sam and Jean opened a Chinese restaurant named King Choy in Lisle, IL. They took pride in being the only restaurant serving authentic Chinese cuisine in the area. They sold the restaurant in 1981 after 8 years of ownership and retired, though the restaurant would retain the original King Choy name for another 40 years. The two traveled together world-wide and spent time with grandchildren until Sam passed away in 1987 due to complications with cancer.

In the 33 years since Sam’s passing, Jean continued to love and serve her family, where Jean became a proud grandmother of 5 and great-grandmother of 4. Jean was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and beloved member of the Cantonese congregation of Cornerstone Chinese Church (formerly the Chinese Bible Church of Oak Park) for over 70 years.

Jean will always be remembered as a joyful woman who loved to smile, laugh and spend time with her family and friends. One of her many gifts was showing her love through food and cooking for others. Jean especially loved to share her famous Chinese sponge cake during church get-togethers, holidays and celebrations. She was also happy to share her signature sponge cake recipe with family and friends. Her legacy will live on through others who continue to make the Chinese sponge cake!

Jean was preceded in death by husband Sam and daughter Rita.

She is survived by her brother Cheong Tin (May); son Carl (Carol), and son Albert (Susan); Grandchildren: Jason (Bianca), Chad (Amber), Cathy (Ryan), Aaron and Heather; Great-grandchildren: Elden, Althea, Caela and Maddie; and many nieces and nephews.