With a grieving heart we are notifying our relatives and friends that our mother Mrs. Helen Chan, whom we love and respect deeply, has passed. She suffered from a stroke about two weeks ago, was hospitalized at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and died peacefully in palliative care in the presence of family on December 17, 2025 at the age of 95.
Helen Yu Shou Ha Chan was born in Guangzhou, China on June 19, 1931. As a young girl she moved to Hong Kong with her family, and studied at Sacred Heart Canossian School. After graduation she was trained as a registered nurse, and furthered her studies in midwifery, subsequently working in different health institutions under the Hong Kong Government.
Even though our mother received Western-style education, and was a working professional, she retained a lot of traditional Chinese virtues. Since childhood she had strong family values, and practised filial piety towards her elders. Our mother and our father Ping Yee Chan had known each other for a long time, as both sets of parents were long-time friends, before they tied the knot in 1956. They had three children. Later on, in view of our father’s poor health, our mother resigned from her nursing career at Queen Mary Hospital after her youngest son was born, and focused on taking care of her husband and children.
Our mother was a reserved and down-to-earth person, never vain or prideful. She had a helping heart, and demonstrated how much family relationships meant to her by practical action. We remember that at different times we had two cousins and an aunt live together with us in our Hong Kong home, and they were treated like part of the family.
Unfortunately our father passed away prematurely in 1980. Still in her forties, our mother had to raise up us three siblings all by herself. She was fairly successful in accomplishing this mission – her daughter graduated from the University of Hong Kong, her two sons became a Ph. D and a medical doctor respectively in Canada, thereby establishing a good foundation for future contribution to different sectors of society.
Our mother immigrated to Canada in 1987. Previously selflessly living for others, and never spending time on her own hobbies, our mother was finally able to engage in some of her own interests and social life after immigration. She was an avid follower of Master Wang, from whom she diligently learned tai chi and qi gong, and was named Honorary President of Sui Yuan Alumni Association. She was a generous supporter of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, with her name being acknowledged on the donor list plaque for the Centre’s second phase building extension.
Later in life our mother suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. For many years she participated in day programs operated by Carefirst, which offered her care and a lot of joy. She spent her last years peacefully at home. During this period, she developed an interest in music. While her memory was deteriorating, to the extent that she could not recognize her own children, she was still able to remember the lyrics of a number of songs and sing to their melodies.
Helen is survived by her three children
· Grace (son-in-law David Cohen)
· Albert (daughter-in-law Carmen Chan)
· Lawrence (daughter-in-law Anh Truong)
and seven grandchildren / step-grandchildren
· Raphael
· Rodney
· Bernice
· Renee
· Silken
· Eliot
· Laura Cohen
Our mother accepted Jesus several years ago, and is now resting in the Lord’s embrace.
We thank all our relatives and friends for their care and support.
1591 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill, ON, CANADA, L4S 1M9
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Monday, 22 Dec 2025 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Visitation
Elgin Mills Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Centres
1591 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill, ON, CANADA, L4S 1M9
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Tuesday, 23 Dec 2025 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Funeral
Elgin Mills Funeral Centre
1591 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill, ON, CANADA, L4S 1M9
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Tuesday, 23 Dec 2025 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Info: Link to livestream for funeral service can be found at the top of this page at around 9:55am. 現場直播大慨會在葬禮當天上午九點五十五分開始,啟動後連結可在網頁頂部找到。 In lieu of flowers, please kindly consider donations to Sunnybrook Foundation, Alzheimer Society of Canada or Carefirst Seniors and Community Services Association. Donation links to the above organizations can be found in the donations page. 請考慮以捐款代替鮮花,捐贈至上列慈善機構。連結可在捐款分頁找到。
Interment
Elgin Mills Cemetery
1591 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill, ON, CANADA, L4S 1M9
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Tuesday, 23 Dec 2025 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Lunch Reception ( 解慰酒)
Starchiva Cuisine ( 星芝華)
160 East Beaver Creek Road, Unit 4-6, Richmond Hill, ON, CANADA, L4B 3J6
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Tuesday, 23 Dec 2025 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Info: Please note: the location is Starchiva Cuisine ( NOT Starchiva Restaurant/Starchiva Delight in the vicinity )