Chin Lan "Joy" Chang

She was surrounded and comforted by her husband of over 50 years Ji-Shuenn James Chang and her two daughters Teresa and Roslyn Chang. She fought her battle against cholangiocarcinoma on her own terms for nearly two years with great courage and strength of character.

She always lived her life with a joyful and cheerful outlook, which is how she picked her American nickname - Joy (as in “joy to the world”). She would love it most when friends and family would drop by for a cup of tea, share good food and conversation, as well as share the fruits of her garden especially her homegrown chives, which we all cherished.

She was born Chiu, Chin-Lan (邱金蘭) in XinYing (新營) (a district of Tainan City), Taiwan on June 9, 1943, the youngest of 8 children (4 brothers and 3 sisters). She attended nursing school at Foo Yin University where she made many lifelong friends, excelled academically, and found her calling in the medical field training as a midwife. She also met her husband Ji-Shuenn James Chang while attending nursing school. They married in Taiwan and later immigrated to the United States in 1972 to Buffalo, NY. She would later return back to Foo Yin serving on the board after retirement, sharing many joyful memories while reuniting with old nursing school friends.

She worked at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital/Gates Circle as a nuclear medicine technologist for many many years before she retired forming another close family with fellow technologists and physicians. Along the way she also obtained a dental hygiene degree, became a registered nurse, completed her Bachelor’s of Science in nursing at SUNY Buffalo, became certified in permanent cosmetic tattooing among many other talents/skills she collected and learned throughout her life.

After retirement, she spent several years traveling, also returning back to Taiwan working at her alma mater Foo Yin University, spending time with her family there whom she had been away from for decades, as well as enjoying retirement with her nursing school classmates from long ago.

Joy was known for her kindness, concern for others, optimism, creativity, inquisitiveness, perseverance, patience, calmness and positivity. She would turn an ordinary piece of paper, string, ribbon, straw, blade of grass or packing material into an exquisite creation and gift them to her friends and family. Often she would be working on projects such as designing and sewing elaborate halloween costumes for her children and family friends, or making Christmas ornaments from complicated geometric origami. She taught herself to make delicious culinary delights from her homeland with what limited resources were available, and also would grow her own extensive collection of vegetables, fruits, medicinal herbs and fragrant flowers in her home greenhouse and backyard. She enjoyed raising a menagerie of birds which over the years included geese, chickens, peacocks, pheasants, African grey parrots, cockatiels, and budgies. In her 60s she began running, and also taught herself to swim. She was a lifelong learner and always loved to share her knowledge and wisdom with anyone and everyone. She often shared her love through food and her knowledge of arts/crafts as well as her experience of life lessons over a cup of tea. Everyone was always welcomed unassumingly into her home. She often would say there was no problem that could not be solved without time, patience, and persistence. She was an inspiration to many.

To her family she set an example of adaptability, strength, truth, sincerity, reliability, and was a source of unconditional love and comfort. She served as a foundation for her family and raised two beautiful daughters, Teresa J Chang MD and Roslyn J Chang MD, and leaves behind her beloved husband Ji-Shuenn James Chang. She will be deeply missed.

A gathering for Chin-Lan “Joy” Chang will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2025 from 1-3 PM at Perna, Dengler, Roberts Funeral Home, 1671 Maple Rd, Williamsville, NY 14221.