Cecelia J. Chan

1938 - 2025

Cecelia J. Chan

April 2, 1938 – September 20, 2025

Cecelia Chan passed away at her home in Nevada City on September 20, 2025 at the age of 87. She was surrounded by members of her family.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 27th at Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Grass Valley at 10 a.m., followed by a reception at Buck Hall, then a buffet lunch from 1:30 - 3:30p.m. at the Royal Dragon Restaurant in Grass Valley.

Born on April 2, 1938 to Sherman and Lily Chan in Grass Valley, she attended all the local schools and graduated in 1956 from Nevada Union High School. She was a popular, active student who was voted the Best Female Athlete of her class. She attended nursing school at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco, earning her RN title in 1959. This qualified her to become employed as a flight attendant for Pan American Airlines specifically to fly overseas, eventually becoming the purser on flights. She enjoyed an exciting 26-year career with frequent flights to the orient until Pan Am went bankrupt in 1986. She flew for United Airlines for another 20 years before retiring to build her dream home atop Banner Mountain in Nevada City.

Cecelia's focus was on being a faithful, devout follower of Christ. She remained an active member of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Grass Valley, including reading at services and cooking for the homeless. She went on missions to Uganda and Mexico. Her love of travel continued with annual trips to distant countries primarily with a group of fellow retirees. Her closest companions were her roommate, Amy Hernandez and several flight attendants; the latter called "The Joy Luck Club". Photography became a primary hobby.

Cecelia will be missed by her family, friends, and church family. She frequently hosted gatherings at her home, attended every family function, annually prepared the traditional Chinese New Year dinner for family and friends and remained a doting aunt to each of her eight nieces and nephews and seven grandnieces. Her positive outlook on life, and thoughtfulness were her primary attributes.

She is survived by her sisters Carol Young of Alameda, CA, Shirley Hunziker of San Leandro, CA, brothers Robert (Louise) Chan of Lake of the Pines, CA, Franklin (Sue) Chan of Davis, CA, Gerald Chan, O.D. of Nevada City, CA, nieces Cindy Young, Kimberly Chan, Melissa Chan (Rob) Stone, Chris Damiani, Allison (Grant) Weller, Tiffany Chan, O.D., and nephews Charles Young and Greg Chan.

She is preceded in death by her parents Sherman and Lily Chan.

Memorial contributions may be made to Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Grass Valley, Hospice of the Foothills, or the American Cancer Society.