Obituary of Mrs. Jean Lee

It’s with profound sadness that we must announce Jean Lee, wife of Chinatown community leader Raymond Lee, passed away on the evening of Tuesday, June 20, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Jean was born on February 8, 1933 in Guangzhou, China to Mr. and Mrs. Pon Gin and older sister to Linda and younger sister to Frank, who preceded her in death. She immigrated to the United States at 16 years old to escape communism and met Raymond through friends and relatives. They fell in love, married in 1960 and had four children: Sidney, Bernice, Serena, and Medora.

Jean often quietly took a backseat to Raymond’s public community leadership and supported him in all his professional and community endeavors.

Everyone who knew the couple could tell you Jean was tireless, strongly opinionated, hardworking, humble and giving of everything she had to her family. She especially enjoyed family meals, particularly on holidays when she insisted on cooking every single dish on the table herself. She also loved to travel the world, especially Asia and her homeland of China, and could easily out-walk and out-sightsee everyone in the tour group, including the tour guide.

We already miss her dearly, but we are comforted by knowing she is peacefully and happily at home with the Lord.

Jean is survived by her husband Raymond, her son Sidney, her daughters Bernice, Serena and Medora and eight grandchildren. Her legacy and generosity also continue to live on at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago that she and Raymond helped found in 2005 so people could always learn about Chinese American culture.

Visitation will be 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, June 30 at Dalcamo Funeral Home at 470 West 26th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60616. Phone: (312) 842-8681

Additional visitation will be 9 a.m., followed by funeral service at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 1 at Chinese Christian Union Church at 2301 South Wentworth Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60616. Phone: (312) 842-8545

Burial procession will depart Chinese Christian Union Church at 11:30 a.m. to Mount Auburn Cemetery in Stickney, Illinois 60402.

Lunch will be 1 p.m. at Furama Restaurant at 2828 South Wentworth Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60616