So Lin Chan

So Lin Chan, passed away July 18, 2011 at the age of 77 years. So Lin Chan was born on October 2, 1932 in a small village in the district of Toy San in Canton, China. She was the eldest of 5 children. She has 4 brothers. In 1949, at age 17, So Lin was married. The following year, in February she gave birth to a daughter, (Lancy) Ngan Kam. Less than 2 years later, a son (Jimmy) Hoi Ming was born. In 1958 her husband abandoned her and the children. So Lin was left to raise her 2 young children and her husband’s grandparents in China on her own. Life in China during this period was very hard. The toughest years were from the end of 1958 to 1961. The government did not allow anyone to keep food in their home. Everyone ate at the government public kitchen where they served potato congee and steamed rice. After the death of her grandparents-in-laws, she brought her 2 children over to Hong Kong in April 1962. As a single mother with little education it was very difficult to make ends meet. In the beginning, to provide for her young family, So Lin sewed sequins on clothing and put plastic flowers together. Later on, So Lin worked as a seamstress in a factory and she also worked in a factory where they manufactured wigs. Life was very difficult. So Lin and the children were just barely getting by. Once in a while, her father-in-law in Canada would send money to So Lin and the children. Despite all these hardships, So Lin never complained or felt sorry for herself and her children. Through her strong will, determination and perseverance she was able to raise her 2 children. In 1970, Mrs. Cheung, the boss’ wife at the wig factory introduced her to Jesus and Christianity. She started attending church when she was able to. In October 1971, So Lin immigrated to Canada. She settled in Montreal and lived with her father and mother-in-law until 1977. In 1977, So Lin moved to Vancouver where her daughter Lancy and her family lived. She continued to work as a seamstress at the Surrey Classics factory in Gastown. In 1980, So Lin moved to Caroline, AB to be with her son, Jimmy and helped him open up a family restaurant. On March 26, 1989, So Lin was baptised in a church in Calgary and from that point she lived her life as a devout Christian. Although So Lin had very little education herself, she worked very hard to learn to read the Bible. In 1991, So Lin retired and moved to Calgary. In 1994, So Lin returned to B.C. and moved to Coquitlam. She was very happy to be back in Vancouver spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoyed attending church and meeting people in her congregation. She and Lancy travelled to many different places together including Europe, Vegas, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. They also cruised to Alaska, Mexico and Hawaii. In 2004, So Lin moved into her own apartment in Burnaby to be closer to her daughter, Lancy. In 2007, So Lin moved into a house with her son, Jimmy and his family in Burnaby. So Lin endured many hardships (physical, emotional, financial) in her life but upon finding God she felt peace in her heart. She never complained openly about how difficult her life had been, only that she felt very lucky for what she had. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. So Lin loved to cook and she made many delicious dishes that her family enjoyed. Often she would taste something that she liked at a restaurant and then she would come home and try to make her own version of it. Other times she would make up her own recipes. She showed her love through her cooking. She was always making and bringing food to her family’s homes. In January 2009, So Lin was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. She endured 1 cycle of chemotherapy, followed by 20 months of oral medication treatment. Despite the side effects of the medication, So Lin never complained. In January 2011, the oral treatment stopped working. So Lin refused to do any more chemotherapy or try clinical trial treatments because she felt she had endured enough pain all her life. She accepted her fate and was at peace with it. So Lin continued to live her life the way she wanted to. She kept going to church, visiting friends, spending a lot of time with her family, and eating out at many different restaurants. Her biggest joys were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They always brought a smile to her face and they all loved her dearly. So Lin spent the past 3 months at Delta Irene Thomas Hospice where she received excellent care. Many of her friends and family visited her regularly. She passed away peacefully on July 18, 2011 at 9:45pm surrounded by all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Even though So Lin had a very difficult life and endured many hardships along the way, she always expressed her gratitude to God for what she had. She was a faithful servant to Christ. So Lin was a loving and caring sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She will always be remembered as a very independent, strong-willed woman who sacrificed and persevered for her family. Visitation for family and friends will be held at Glenhaven Memorial Chapel, 1835 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC on Monday, July 25, 2011 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A Funeral service will be held at Burnaby Chinese Evangelical Free Church, 6112 Rumble, Burnaby, BC on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 12:30 pm. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 3789 Royal Oak Ave. Burnaby, BC. Arrangements entrusted to Glenhaven Memorial Chapel, Vancouver, BC. 604.255.5444. Robert Leier, Funeral Director.