Obituary of Dan Dung Yim Chan

September 2, 1929 - Canton, China

October 09, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta 

Dan Chan, formerly of Edmonton, passed away peacefully in Calgary on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at the age of 95 years.

Dan is loved and remembered by his family: his wife of 67 years, Suzie Siu Yuk Chan; his two sons, Carl Chan and Calvin Chan (and his wife Caroline); his daughter, Lily Lum (and her husband, Sam); and his seven grandchildren, Mikala, Alexis, Brandon, Alison, Kiana, Nathan, and Katelyn.

Dan was born on September 2, 1929, in a small village located near the city of Toishan in Guangdong Province, China.

He moved to Hong Kong in the 1950s to follow his dream of joining his father (Chin Woy) and grandfather (Chin Sack) in Canada to find his fortune. In Hong Kong, he rented a room in a boarding house owned by the father of a beautiful girl named Suzie Siu Yuk Lee, whom he would later marry.

In Edmonton, Dan became a small business owner and opened “Dan’s Grocery” on 97th Street in Edmonton. Not long after, his first two children, Carl and Lily were born. He would eventually sponsor his mother, Chin Mah Yee Yuk, from China. She lived with them for a short time before her passing in 1966.

After many years in Edmonton, a new business opportunity arose that allowed Dan to draw upon his culinary skills, perfected in his early years working in Chinese restaurants and on an Alaskan cruise ship. Shortly after the birth of his son Calvin, Dan moved his young family to Vegreville in 1970 where he opened his own restaurant, the "Alberta Hotel Cafe". After several years of hard work, Dan and Suzie sold the business and moved back to Edmonton so that Carl and Lily could finish high school and attend the University of Alberta. Back in Edmonton, Dan leveraged his butchering skills to take a job at Gainers, where he would work until his retirement.

Dan had many passions, including music and baking. As a young man, he sang falsetto in classic Chinese operas. He was fascinated by the intricate costumes, makeup, and traditional songs. He also enjoyed gardening and took great pride caring for his apple tree. He would often make apple sauce and pie from the fruit of his beloved tree. Although he kept written recipes for many dishes and desserts, when it came to apple pie, he needed no instructions. He could make the most delicious pie from memory with a perfectly flaky pastry every time.

Dan's favourite hockey team was the Edmonton Oilers, especially during the Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier era, when they won five Stanley Cup championships. His love for hockey grew as he took his son Calvin to hockey practices and games, where he was often the loudest cheerleader. One of his fondest memories was meeting his sports hero, Wayne Gretzky, at a local McDonald's.

In retirement, Dan enjoyed riding Edmonton Transit to visit the local library or to the University of Alberta. He took great pride in his three children and would often stop by the university's faculty buildings to look for their graduating class pictures. Dan also enjoyed spending afternoons at Northlands Park, where he would watch horse races, placing the occasional winning bet.

Dan’s most memorable vacation was a Mexican cruise with his entire family and grandchildren, celebrating 50 years of marriage to Suzie.

The Chan Family would like to thank all the remarkable staff at Wing Kei Greenview, Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary, and Golden Age Manor in Edmonton, who were so kind and supportive of Dan and his family.

For those who wish to do so, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to The Alzheimer Society of Canada, 20 Eglinton Avenue West, 16th Floor, Toronto, ON M4R 1K8, Tel: 416-488-8772, www.alzheimer.ca.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Dan’s family here.

In living memory of Dan Chan, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Calgary Crematorium, 3219 – 4th Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2M 3A6, Telephone: 403-299-0111.