Ai-Lan (Quek) Brady

It is with profound sadness the Brady Quek and Woon Family announce the passing of our dear loved one Ai-Lan Quek- Brady on October 25th, 2019.

 

Ai-Lan was born on October 29, 1928 in Malacca, a British Colony, on the Malay Peninsula called, The Straits Settlements, which later became part of Malaya and at independence, Malaysia.

 

She was the daughter of Quek Kai Kee O.B.E.  Her Grandfather, who with his brother, immigrated from Hainan Island (the Hawaii of China) to resource rich Malaya where they became successful entrepreneurs in rubber, palm oil and tin.

 

Ai Lan grew up along with her four sisters and three brothers in this large close-knit and extended family. Her Father settled in Segamat, Johore State and she attended a boarding school in nearby Malacca.

 

At age 15, when the Japanese invaded, her family fled Malaya and escaped to Western China via India, Burma and then by plane,  courtesy of the American Army Airforce, who called the flight from Lashio Burma across the Himalayas to Western China as "going over the hump", to the part of China still in the hands of Chiang Kai Shek.

 

She went to high school in Chungking, Szechuan, a City where many Chinese schools and universities had relocated their campuses away from Japanese occupied areas.

 

She attended high school there, at Nankai Secondary School, a renown, elite university preparatory school, that had relocated to Chungking.

 

There she twice won awards in Mathematics. Like London, Chungking experienced frequent bombings throughout the war. Her family began a pulp and paper mill in the nearby town of Yibin.

 

The family fled China and returned to Malaya in 1949 when the Communists took over China. Back in Malaya after six years absence they found their properties all vandalized and looted.

 

Having done her high school in Chinese, going back to Malaya she had to upgrade her English in Singapore.  She then went on to the U.S. for her post-secondary education and she received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Elementary Education from the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois. It's the Education wing of Chicago's Northwestern University.

 

On the death of her Father, she returned to Malaysia and taught at The Good Sheppard Convent in Kuala Lumpur and Saint Margaret's Primary School in Singapore.

 

Following her younger Sister Ai-Leng, who worked for the B.B.C. in London, England, as a British Subject, Ai-Lan went to Britain where she taught in the poor east end London Borough of Newham (think of "To, Sir with Love").

 

When her sister and brother-in-law immigrated to Canada and were living in Edmonton, she came for a visit. When they toured her around, she fell in love with The Rockies and told her Sister, "if you can get me a job at a school where I can see the mountains, I'll stay in Canada".

 

They searched the want ads and came across a school named Mountain View. She was interviewed by Paul Marshall of The Edson School Division and School Board Chairman Dr. Ian Reid who said, "if she can teach in London's East End, she can teach anywhere".

 

She joined Mountain View School in 1968 along with other UK recruits like Mike Chidlaw and Al Lambkin.

 

Having never learned to cook, she scalded her arm and went to the Hinton Medical Clinic where Dr. Murray wrote her a prescription for the burn. He teasingly suggested that if she was looking for a boyfriend, there was a young single Pharmacist at the Drugstore next door.

 

We like to think of Dr. Murray as the Match Maker for the long and beautiful love affair. First date, at Highway Café, was a triple date with Irishman Leo Hughes and another UK recruit at Mt. View School Miss Wendy Symes along with Dexter Champion and School Teacher Miss Evelyn Massie. Ken and Ai Lan were married by Father Girard Redmond at Our Lady of Foothills Catholic Church; Best Man Magistrate Col. F.C. Hanington and Bridesmaid Vice Principal Kay Griffiths.

 

Ai-Lan taught two generations of Hinton kids there at Mountain View School. Ai Lan is survived by her husband of fifty years Ken Brady, the nine Hinton Brady Bunch Kids, Hyu-Yin Hoskins (Craig), Fay Woon, Boon Ryan (Pat), Tom Quek, Bonnie Quek, Jean Woon, Anne Woon, Chet Choon Woon (Leeanne), Kar Loon Quek (Thim).

 

The nieces and nephews who came from Malaysia for Post Secondary Education: Hyu Har Chong (Paul), Kar Piaw Quek (Surang), Chet Chuan Woon.

 

The siblings: Ai-Lin Woon, Ai-Lee Yap, Ai-Chen Oh (Chong Lim), Suan Hiang Quek (Lai Ming), Suan Hong Quek, Susie Lim (sister-in-law), Patricia Abougosh, Geraldine Brady, Shelia Robbins (Graham), Kathleen Omana.

 

The nieces and nephews: Patriarch of the 4th generation of Queks  Kar Tung Quek (Siew Chong), Dr. Kar Chi Quek, Talel Abougosh, Suhila Mahoney(Shawn), Colin Moisan, Alyssa Moisan, Ryan Smith(Liz), Kim Novak(Dennis Fath), Shelly Evans (Terry), Michael Alexander, Daniel Robbins(Marianna),  Sara Ranson (Rob), Jesse Robbins, Dr. Alpha Yap (Libby), Dr. Kim Yap, Carl Yap (Grace), Kar Mok Quek, Karen Kuo (Stephen), Hwei Toms(Keith), May Vett (Will), Sue Yin Romanin (Frank), Teik Hooi Oh.

 

The Grandkids: Michael Hoskins, Elissa Hoskins, Rae Woon, Kae Woon, Mae Woon, WeiXin Quek-Chong( Julio), WeiCi Chong, WeiYi Chong, ShouEn Chong, ShouHeng Quek (Li Yi),  ShouYuan Quek(Wan Jin),  Qiao Hui Quek, Qiao Wen Kuo (Sam),  David Yap, Katie Yap, Sierra Yap, Kyra Yap, Tim Weber, Elizabeth Lim (Roy), Sara Yong(Donovan), Debra Tham (Li Jing), Olivia Kuo , Sarah Kuo, McKenzie Smith, Jordan Smith, Nick Smith, Leslie Brady(Mike Casey).

 

The great grandkids Jin-Han Tham, Jin-Tai Tham, Graeme Yong, Heather Yong, Colin Yong, Christopher Lim, Timothy Lim, Mina Vett, Johann Vett, Tessa Romanin, Lucas Toms, Mila Toms, Eric Evans, Taylor Evans, Adam Mahoney, Erica Mahoney, Blake Mahoney, Zeff Mahoney, Brady Ranson, Sullivan Ranson, Logan Casey.

 

She was predeceased by her Father Quek Kai Kee, her Mother Wong Jee Soon, her Sister Ai-Leng Soo, her Brother Suan Seng Quek, her Brother-in Law Philip Soo, her Sister-in-Law Lorraine Smith, her Brother-in-law Norman Smith, her Sister-in Law Winnie Quek, her Father-in-Law Gerald Brady, her Mother-in- Law Verna Brady, her Brother-in-Law Donald Brady, her Brother-in-Law Robin Woon, and her Brother-in-Law Bob Yap.

A Celebration of her Life will take place in the Spring of 2020.

 

Memorial Donations for AI-Lan may be offered  to The Hinton Hospital Foundation  http://hintonhealthcare.ca/donate

 

 

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