Dr. Betty Wen (née Lem) was born on December 1, 1941, in Shanghai, China, with ancestral roots in Taishan, Guangdong Province. She was the daughter of Frank F. Y. Lem and You Ho Lem, and the fifth of six daughters in the family.

Betty spent her childhood and secondary school years in Shanghai before moving to Hong Kong with her fourth sister, Susie Lem, to pursue further studies. After completing her bachelor’s degree at Hong Kong Baptist University, she moved to Nova Scotia, Canada in 1969 to continue her education at St. Francis Xavier University, where she earned her master’s degree.

During her years in Nova Scotia, Betty met Fred Wen, a classmate in the same department, and the two shared a youthful journey shaped by both academic pursuits and love. Betty later continued her studies in Ottawa at Carleton University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1977.

In 1976, Betty married Fred Wen in Ottawa, and together they built a loving family and welcomed their son, Jonathan Junwey Wen. In 1980, Betty joined Warner-Lambert, where she participated in and led the research and development of stomach medications, making significant contributions throughout her career until her retirement in 2007.

Following her retirement, Betty remained deeply involved in community service, volunteering with several organizations, including Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care. At the same time, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to caring for and nurturing her three grandchildren, Waverly, Anderson, and Jackson.

Betty was intelligent and studious, fluent in Mandarin and English, and also proficient in Cantonese, Shanghainese, and the Taishan dialect. She was humble, honest, kind-hearted, and always gave her best in everything she did. Raised in a devout Christian family, Betty remained faithful to God throughout her life and loved others generously and sincerely. For decades, she faithfully served in church ministries and dedicated her God-given gifts in music and worship wholeheartedly to the choir ministry.

At Milliken Christian Community Church, Betty led the choir in worship with dedication, professionalism, boundless love, and care. She also supported and encouraged choir members in their faith journeys, helping many grow spiritually. She testified to God's love, grace, and power through her own life, setting a beautiful example for believers.

Following the pandemic, Betty developed dementia, and her condition gradually declined over the years. In the past six months, she became increasingly weak, which affected her eating and sleeping. On the evening of May 16, 2026, Betty peacefully passed away in her sleep at the age of 84.

She leaves behind her beloved husband, Fred; her son, Jonathan; her daughter-in-law, Melody; and her three cherished grandchildren, Waverly, Anderson, and Jackson.

The family deeply appreciates your prayers, love, and support during this time.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Milliken Christian Community Church, where Betty faithfully served in ministry for many decades.

For those who wish to send floral arrangements, the family has arranged flowers through Canadiana Flowers.

Website: www.canadianaflowers.com
Telephone: 1-888-265-7673
Email: info@canadianaflowers.com

The funeral service will be livestreamed from this website starting at 2:15 pm on Thursday, May 21, 2026.