Cora Ai-Fong Yang Hew (楊愛芳) was a teacher, a change maker and a powerful force of love and care in the lives of her family and friends. Cora passed away peacefully on May 4, 2026, watched over by her daughters Nettie Hew and Carolynne Hew. She is survived by her beloved husband Choy-Len Hew, Nettie, Carolynne, grandson Tate Bailey, daughter-in-law Mikka Clayford and son-in-law Cameron Bailey. Beyond her immediate family, she will be deeply missed by her siblings: Linda Wang (Harry Wang), Edward Yang (Ruth Au-Yeung), William Yang (Shirley Yang), Henry Yang (Eve Chou), Susie Tan (Herbert Tan), and Lily Yang (Raymond Wong), as well as her 18 nieces and nephews and 27 grandnieces and grandnephews.

Born in 1937 in Tenchong, China, Cora’s early life was dramatic enough for a book or a movie. She fled Kunming with her family as revolution descended, then fled China altogether to start a new life in Burma (now Myanmar). As a young woman, she was a top student, earning a prized Colombo Plan Scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in Economics at the University of Manitoba. It was there that she met Choy-Len Hew, an international student from Malaysia. Cora and Len married in 1966, and worked for many years as high school teachers in Morris, Manitoba and Sanford.

Cora was a founding leader of the Manitoba Academy of Chinese Studies (MACS), helping to strengthen access to Chinese language and culture for the small immigrant community at the time. It was there, and at the regular social gatherings that sprang from the Academy, that generations of Chinese Canadians met and formed lifelong bonds, including marriages.

At retirement, Cora continued her passion for education, travelling to China with Len to teach at the Yunnan Nationalities Institute. They fundraised and helped to build schools in Yunnan with the charity Yunnan Project Hope for the Minorities. For her service to the Chinese community and her charitable work, Cora was awarded the Manitoba Premier’s Individual Volunteer Service Award in 2011.

In her later years, Cora and Len moved from Winnipeg to Toronto to be closer to family. She loved nothing more than delighting in grandson Tate as he grew, and in sharing stories and laughs over family dinner at a local restaurant. Sam Woo BBQ was a particular favourite. When dinner was done, Cora was often eager to continue the party at home with more stories and laughter.

Cora’s command of a room was impressive. She knew the power of her own story, and she knew how to shine. In fact, Cora recounted her life story in a 2021 book, Life is a Dream: One Woman’s Journey from China and Burma to Canada. Writing the book, and sharing her stories with her daughters as she did, was a high point in a remarkable life.

Cora received exemplary care in her later years, and our family is deeply grateful to her family doctor, Dr. Martin Leung, and Hue To at Cachet Medical Clinic for their many years of dedicated support. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to her home care team of tireless caregivers from SPLC St. Paul’s Terrace (especially Maria Cecilia Cabrera), Circle of Care (particularly Kerry-Ann Moore and Catherine Maquiraya), as well as Elenor Silvestre and Jenny Peranas. Their patience, kindness, and, above all, their ability to bring joy and laughter to Cora meant more than words can express.

Following her cancer diagnosis, Cora’s circle of care expanded, and we are equally thankful to Dr. Aisha Alqaderi and her team at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Clinic; Dr. Damanjot Otal and her colleagues at the Scarborough Palliative Community Team; the dedicated staff at SHN Scarborough Grace Hospital, especially Dr. Sandra Markus and Raveena Yin; and, finally, Dr. Vincent Chien and the 10 North Palliative care team at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital. Their compassionate and humane care brought comfort and dignity to Cora in her final days. She passed away at the beautiful top-floor facility at Toronto’s Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital' Palliative Care Unit.

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