Katherine Sau Lin Chan
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Katherine Sau Lin Chan, who left us on September 4, 2024, at the age of 81. She is predeceased by her devoted husband of 46 years, Shu Keung Chan (2022), her mother, Pearl Tan Gek Choo Goh (2012), and her father, James Kong Hooi Goh (1985).
Katherine is lovingly remembered and cherished by her son Daniel and his wife Jennifer, her son Thomas and his wife Gloria, her adored grandchildren, Elizabeth, Hailey, and Nathaniel, her siblings, Mary, Joseph, Margaret, Francis, and Rose, as well as her nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends.
Born on March 30, 1943, in Tchekam, Kwong Chau Wan, Guangdong, China, Katherine moved to Hong Kong with her parents at the age of two. At 19, she began a rewarding career as a teacher at St. John The Baptist Catholic Primary School in Hong Kong, where she taught music, English, and Natural Sciences for 25 years. She took immense joy in nurturing her students and was known for her kindness, compassion, and dedication. Many of her former students sought her out decades later in Canada, and she formed lasting bonds with them that continued into her final years.
Katherine shared an inseparable bond with her five siblings, whom she loved deeply. It was not uncommon for Katherine and her sisters to chat for 6-10 hours straight on the phone, with calls starting in the afternoon and often stretching into the next morning, sharing stories, laughter, and the joy of each other’s company. She was her happiest during these cherished moments, especially when enjoying dim sum with her siblings. Katherine also took great pride in the accomplishments of her nieces and nephews, celebrating their successes as if they were her own.
In 1976, Katherine met the love of her life, Shu Keung. They fell in love at first sight and married just three months later, beginning a devoted partnership that spanned 46 years until Shu Keung’s passing in 2022. Together, they traveled the world and built a beautiful life. In 1987, Katherine emigrated with her family from Hong Kong to Richmond, British Columbia, where they started a new chapter of their lives as proud Canadians. Despite the challenges of adjusting to a new country and missing Hong Kong, she was proud to provide her children with a Canadian way of life. The family later settled in Mississauga, Ontario, where Katherine devoted herself to raising her sons. After Shu Keung’s passing in 2022, Katherine missed him dearly and often spoke of the love they shared.
A devout Catholic, Katherine was a dedicated parishioner of Merciful Redeemer Parish since its founding in 1996, and she took great pride in raising her family in her faith.
Katherine had a deep love for music, and delighted in singing and playing the piano, especially the works of Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Schubert, and Beethoven. Her love of music extended to opera and popular artists, including The Platters, Johnny Mathis, Nat King Cole, and icons from her native Hong Kong, such as Hacken Lee, Leslie Cheung, Alan Tam, and Paula Tsui. She would frequently and spontaneously sing to her children and grandchildren, filling their lives with the warmth and joy of her voice. She also enjoyed gardening, and, in her younger years, took pride in maintaining a beautiful garden in her Mississauga home.
Katherine’s greatest joy came from being a grandmother. She cherished her grandchildren, doting on them throughout their childhoods and always finding ways to spoil them with love, toys, and treats. She took pride in watching them grow.
Katherine will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her, and by those whose lives she touched. Her kindness, love, infectious laughter, sense of humor, and unwavering spirit will remain in our hearts forever.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Sameena Uddin, Dr. Jonathan Wan, Dr. Saroosh Arif, all the nurses and staff at Credit Valley Hospital, and her caregiver Caroline, for their compassionate care of Katherine in her final months. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to your favourite charity, or the Credit Valley Hospital, the Canadian Cancer Society or Canadian Blood Services.
Visitation:
Friday, September 13, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Assumption Catholic Funeral Home, 6933 Tomken Road, Mississauga, Ontario
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To watch the visitation live stream click her (6:00 – 8:00 pm)
Funeral Mass:
Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
Merciful Redeemer Parish, 2775 Erin Centre Blvd, Mississauga, Ontario
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Interment:
Assumption Catholic Cemetery, 6933 Tomken Road, Mississauga, Ontario
I will forever remember your beautiful smile that flashed so much joy. Will look for you in heaven!
Condolences to the “Boys”, their families and her siblings.
Missing you Auntie Kat and our frantic, happy chats!
Rose & David Chan
Saskatoon
She’s one of a kind and my inspiration even for short time we were together . She s my mentor as my citizenships examinations coming she always reminds me to study . Even during her hard time of chemotherapy she always encouraged me to read the discover Canada and for that I have my schedule tomorrow for my oath taking as citizenship of Canada. I really thank God for her life she is a blessing to me.
And she love her family especially the grandchildren . At the beginning she told the doctors that she needs the therapy to start coz she wanted to see her grandchildren growing. But we all knew that we are just all temporary in this world . But we just having difficulties to accept it. But God give us time for everything to mourn , to cry and to grief in this time that our love ones on Gods hand now. But I knew she’s is in Gods loving arms without any pains and troubles in breathing . She s so prayerful and believe in God the Father , the Son and Holy Spirit . Amen
Mrs Katherine Chan was my respectful teacher in Hong Kong, who miraculously turned out to be my neighbour in Canada and dearest beloved friend after separation for more than half a century.
Ms NG, the phonetic version of Katherine’s maiden name GOH in Hong Kong, as I used to address her all the time, first came to my life when I was 8 years old; she was a teacher of me and all my 3 brothers and 1 sister, teaching music to all and English & general knowledge (natural science) to some of us. She impressed me as a young tall pretty woman, and as a kid I took it for granted that was what a music teacher should look like. In those years, corporal punishment was permitted in school, but I never saw her threaten with or practise corporal punishment, yet she was serious as a teacher and managed keep her class in good order. No wonder I found that she on her own kept her large house in Mississauga so clean, tidy and beautiful all the time, simply unbelievable! My former tenant in my house was also surprised to see her able to take up all kinds of work outside her house.
It was an extreme case of pleasant surprise when I found that the owners and residents of the house across Robinhood Court from my house in Mississauga (still rented out at that time) were Katherine and her husband, Mr Chan, about a quarter of century after they and we bought our houses there. My encounter with Katherine when I was a kid was definitely unforgettable, yet my new encounter with her impressed me with a new dimension. Apart from raising her sons and taking care of the heavy household work, she dealt with property leasing incl difficult tenant problems, and making friends. She was absolutely capable, positive thinking, and had genuine love for life and people. She was always proud of her sons, Daniel & Thomas, who took care of her with generosity, patience and dedication in addition to keeping their own families well. I had long chats with Katherine from Hong Kong from time to time even while she was receiving cancer treatment. Both she and I enjoyed the chats and she was up spirited all the time, with her iconic laughter and no tears. The same for my sister, Margaret, who last chatted joyfully with Katherine on Sep 1 for one and half hours. I believe Katherine is now resting in peace reunited with her beloved husband. We have every reason to feel proud of and good for her.