Title
Honoring Mabel "Chi" Chan and her lasting legacy and contributions to the Philadelphia community.
Body
WHEREAS, Mabel Chan was born in 1957 in Fujian Province, China as the second oldest daughter in a family of seven kids. Ms. Chan's family moved to Hong Kong, where she was able to attend the most prestigious secondary high school on a full scholarship; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Chan's father immigrated alone to the United States in 1970, in hope of eventually reuniting with the rest of the family. In 1970, after three years of non-stop work and with the support of friends, Ms. Chan's father was able to purchase a take-out restaurant on Lehigh Avenue; and
WHEREAS, During this time, Ms. Chan had severe appendicitis and was deemed by doctors as "unsavable." At the time, Ms. Chan wanted to become a monk after being exposed to Buddhist philosophies. After surviving appendicitis, Ms. Chan decided that she would dedicate her life to doing good deeds; and
WHEREAS, In 1974, four years after Ms. Chan's father immigrated to the United States, Ms. Chan and her mother reunited with him. The family settled on the second-floor apartment of the take-out restaurant in North Philly that Ms. Chan's father owned; and
WHEREAS, Three years later, Ms. Chan, with the support and blessings from her father, took over the management of her father's restaurant. Ms. Chan worked early mornings and late nights, which allowed her to learn essential management skills for her future; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Chan and her family longed to move to Chinatown, a noticeably underdeveloped neighborhood given its proximity to Center City, where the Chan family could find a community whose members spoke their language of Cantonese. After six years of backbreaking labor, Ms. Chan, her sister, and her father were able to purchase a paper factory warehouse at 1026 Race Street. The Chan family converted the warehouse into a restaurant named Joy Tsin Lau; and
WHEREAS, Joy Tsin Lau officially opened on Octobe...
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