Tang Shui Wan Kwan

Tang Shui Wan Kwan (Mrs. Kwan) passed away at the age of 83 on January 29, 2016 in Vancouver, BC. Mrs. Kwan was preceded in death by her husband, Wing Chuen Kwan (1922-2004). She is survived by her daughter Annie (Ray) of Vancouver, her son Tommy (Bing Bing) of Vancouver, her son Wayne (Cynthia) of Ottawa, her daughter Brenda (Ken) of Vancouver, and four grandchildren (two grandchildren-in-laws) and five step-grandchildren.

Originally from Kaiping (province of Guangdong, China), Mrs. Kwan came to Vancouver, Canada in the late 1960s. With her husband, she settled in the neighbourhood of Strathcona to raise their growing family. Mrs. Kwan valued a simple and honourable life. She measured her life by human decency, and not by money, power, material goods, or looks. Even after her cancer diagnosis, she maintained as independent a life as possible, not wanting to burden her children or ‘over-use’ her fair share of the health system. Throughout her life, Mrs. Kwan always wanted to learn more English. Shortly after she entered Cottage Hospice (less than two weeks before her death), she was still trying to improve her English so she could better communicate with the hospice staff. In the end, Mrs. Kwan lived a life of no regrets and no fear of death. She got to live the simple, peaceful, and honourable life she desired, and was happy to know that her children are living good lives too.

Many thanks to the many individuals who supported Mrs. Kwan in health and in sickness, and in saying goodbye. In lieu of flowers, contributions can made to the British Columbia Cancer Foundation: http://bccancerfoundation.com/ways-donate/gift-memory