Lai Ying Lee "Lillian" Jang

April 28, 1926 - July 12, 2025 Lai Ying "Lillian" Lee Jang, 99, beloved mother, grandmother, and community leader, passed away peacefully on July 12, 2025, in Arcadia, California.
Born on April 28, 1926, in Canton, China, Lillian was the second of five children of Shin Pak Lam and King Chan. With courage and determination, she came to the United States in 1947 under the War Brides Act, joining her husband, U.S. Army Air Forces veteran Bock G. Jang, and built a new life in Los Angeles.
While raising four children, she pursued her education, earning a GED and an Associate's Degree in Business. She and her husband operated The Peacock gift shop in Mandarin Plaza for two decades and were active in Chinatown business and family-oriented organizations.
Lillian was a trailblazer, serving in the Lee Association, Kong Chow Association, and the Chinese American Museum. She was honored with the Women of Distinction Award from Congresswoman Judy Chu and the Historymaker's Award from the Chinese American Museum.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bock. She is survived by her children May Jang, Jim (Lily) Jang, Raymond (Mardee) Jang, and Eva (James) Quan; four grandchildren; and extended family.
A celebration of life will be held on October 25, 2025 at First Chinese Baptist Church in Los Angeles Chinatown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friends of the Chinese American Museum.