Lei Wang

Lei Wang of Hinsdale, Illinois passed away of metastatic breast cancer in the early morning on November 5, 2025.

Born in Shanghai, China on November 2, 1970 to Xiaoming Wang and Dinghua Xuan, Lei grew up in Shanghai until coming to the States to pursue further education in 1995.

Lei was supremely gifted and shined brightly wherever she went. In 1982, she went to No.2 Secondary School of East China Normal University, a six-year boarding school for specially talented students in Shanghai, a metropolis with a population over 10 million. She excelled in all subjects and was especially admired for her brilliant writings which were widely published and won many awards. She had various interests beyond academics, such as music, art and photography. She was an epitome of elegance, intellect and good taste. She also met her future husband Qing (Charles) Xu there, a ballroom dance partner in a school performance, and her biggest fan and advocate ever since.

Lei continued her excellence at Fudan University in Shanghai starting in 1988, graduated first in her class with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism in 1992, and received a Master's Degree in Journalism three years later. In the summer of 1995, she came to the States, reunited with and married Charles on September 29. She went to Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in 1996, and received a Master's Degree with Distinction in Integrated Marketing Communications with a concentration in Advertising along with two academic awards in 1997.

Lei embarked her career in advertising at FCB Chicago where she worked in the Planning Department, the heart and soul of any advertising campaign, which married perfectly her analytical and creative skills. She continued her career at DDB Chicago, became the youngest-ever Group Planning Director, responsible for the global branding and advertising strategies of clients such as State Farm and Energizer in her early thirties.

Lei is remembered for her selfless love for family, friends and people near and far. Six months after giving birth to daughter Isabella in August 2005, she moved back to Shanghai so that her grandma in her nineties could spend quality time with the great granddaughter. Lei became the National Planning Director of DDB China and JWT China, respectively, while voluntarily reducing her work hours to 70% to spend more time with Isabella. In 2008, Lei again paused her own career to join Charles in Hong Kong, and became the Planning Director of JWT Hong Kong and Leo Burnett Hong Kong, respectively. She continued to work reduced hours, taking Isabella to cello lessons, violin lessons, zoos, parks and beaches. After moving back to Chicago in 2013, Lei worked at a Healthcare Advertising boutique SPM in La Grange with a few of her old colleagues during her DDB Chicago days until retiring in 2020. When not taking Isabella to cello or violin lessons, she would translate the Chinese memorabilia for friends who adopted a Chinese girl, giving career advice to friends or their children, tutoring friends' children on college application essays, or whatever she could do to help others.

Lei was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2014. She did not panic, faced it with her signature poise, grace and intellect. After extensive research, she had elective surgeries but eschewed radiation therapy or chemo therapy against conventional wisdom. She also completely changed her diet to vegan.

Around this time, Lei found faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole family followed suit. We found our church home at Hinsdale Covenant Church in 2015 and have been members since then. Lei poured her heart and soul into the Bible, church activities and spreading the Gospel. She cofounded a book club during COVID which met every Friday evening, starting out with C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity and then N.T. Wright's Matthew For Everyone. She translated one chapter into Chinese each week and led the discussion, rarely missing a gathering despite her declining health in the last three years. In late 2022, her breast cancer, after eight years in remission, metastasized into her spine, legs and liver. While seeking treatment, she sowed the seeds of salvation with renewed determination and urgency, in the only way that she knew, gently and leading by example. Her unwavering faith shown during her fight against the deadly disease has profoundly influenced and changed people around her.

Lei is survived by her loving husband Qing (Charles) Xu, beloved daughter Isabella Xu and mother Dinghua Xuan.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, December 13 at Hinsdale Covenant Church, 412 S Garfield Ave, Hinsdale, IL 60521. At the family's request, participants are asked to wear color instead of black to celebrate Lei's life.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Lei Wang Memorial Fund to be dispersed to the charities that Lei passionately supported. You may donate online at hinsdalecovenant.com/donate and choose "Lei Wang Memorial Fund" in the pulldown menu under "DONATE NOW".