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Dr. Yun-hua Jan

Dr. Yun-hua Jan passes away

It is with great sadness that the Department of Religious Studies announces the passing of Dr. Yun-hua Jan. He was a respected scholar and is survived by his wife Siu-fung, his sons, Chien (Helen) and Kang (Sharon) and six grandchildren.

Jan 04, 2019

JAN, Yun Hua

March 15, 1923 (China)-December 31, 2018 (Hamilton)

He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at Shalom Village in Hamilton.  Yun-hua grew up in China and met his beloved wife, Siu-fung Wong when they were students.  Together they survived WWII, and escaped the Chinese civil war that followed. They spent their early married life in Hong Kong and eventually settled in Santiniketan, India. It was here that Yun-hua continued his studies and ultimately obtained his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Tan Yun-shan.  They also began to raise their family of 2 sons: Chien and Kang.

Yun-hua’s career flourished as he continued to study and to contribute significantly to many scholarly works. In 1967, this brought him to the attention of the Department of Religious Studies at McMaster University and he was invited to become part of the faculty. A key factor in this decision was the opportunity for his children to have a better future.  As a family, they embarked on a new life in Canada. Yun-hua was highly regarded by his long-time colleagues who would fondly remark on his “unique” use of the English language. After his retirement in 1988, he continued to teach in Taiwan for several more years.

Yun-hua is survived by his wife Siu-fung, his sons, Chien (Helen) and Kang (Sharon) and six grandchildren.  Special thanks to the staff at Shalom Village for their care during the four years spent on the 2nd floor of Gould House, SVO.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Yun-hua’s memory to an organization of your choice. A private funeral and cremation will take place.