Obituary of Mary Margaret Lai Kwan Wu Wen

Mary Margaret Lai Kwan Wu Wen passed away in Saratoga on June 9, 2014 at the age of 87. Margaret was born on Feb 8, 1927 in Shanghai, China to Dr. and Mrs. Chao-Chu Wu. Dr. Wu served as China's Foreign Minister and later as China's Minister to the United States in the early 1930's. Her grandfather, Ting-Fang Wu, served under the Qing Dynasty as Minister to the United States and later as Foreign Minister in Sun Yat-Sen's republican government. Her grandfather, on her mother's side, Sir Ho Kai, played a key role in the relationship between the Hong Kong Chinese community and the British colonial government. Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong, was named after him and his son-in-law Au Tak. Margaret grew up in Hong Kong and came to the United States in 1948 to attend Marylhurst College in Portland, Oregon, graduating in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in biology. She was married to Victor Wen for 32 years. She was a long-time resident of Pacific Grove, California and lived in Saratoga, California, at the time of her passing. Margaret is survived by three children and their spouses: Gerard (Annette) Wen; Ignatius (Sally) Wen; and Marian (Ray) Irvine; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one brother; and many nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by four sisters and two brothers. Vigil and Rosary will be held at Spangler Mortuary, Los Altos, on Sunday, June 15, 2014. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by her grandson, Rev. Colin Wen, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Palo Alto, on Monday, June 16, 2014. For additional details, please contact the family. In lieu of flowers, donations in Margaret's memory can be made to: The Serra International Foundation, 333 W Wacker Dr, Ste 500, Chicago, IL 60606. To donate online, go to http://www.serrainternational.org/foundationsupport/




To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Lai Kwan Wu Wen, please visit Tribute Store