Hu Yu Chiao Fan

Hu Yu Chiao Fan was born on December 13, 1940, and died peacefully on May 11, 2019, at the age of 78, surrounded by her family. Born in Taiwan, she was the daughter of Hu Rong Wan and Hu Hsu Jin Mei. She married her husband, Chiyao Fan after meeting him in 1957 at a neighborhood party. It was “love at the first sight,” according to Chiyao with whom she was married for 61 years. A lively and nurturing woman, she could speak both Mandarin as well as her native Chinese Ke Jia dialect and loved telling stories of family members across the generations. She loved to cook for her family as well as frequent the natural hot springs in Peitou, Taiwan. She became an American citizen in late 1990s and lived down the street from her daughter Wen-Long in Centreville, VA for the past 15 years. All of her grandchildren are deeply grateful for the care she bestowed on them in early childhood. She was an ever-present part of their lives.

Courageous, capable, and filled with practical wisdom, she was the true matriarch of the family and excelled at managing household affairs. She loved gardening and was known for growing roses, peonies, tomatoes, chives, cucumbers, and turnips wherever she could. Most recently, she grew a pear tree on her front lawn and raised chickens in her backyard.

She is survived by her husband, Chiyao Fan; three daughters and one son, Wen-Li Fan, Wen-Nin Fan, Wen-Long Fan, and Wen-Yuan Fan; son-in-laws, Kai-Bor Yu, Charles Chen, Shunmin Wang; five grandchildren, Christina Yu, Anna Yu Hegreness, Christine Chen, Caleb Chen, and Naomi Omori, who knew her as “Po Po”; and great-granddaughter Sage Hegreness, who knew her as “Lao Tai.”

The family held a private service at Beall Funeral Home in Bowie, MD on May 24, 2019. Burial will be at a later date in Taiwan. Donations in memory of Hu Yu Chiao Fan may be made to the National Kidney Foundation.