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AUGUST 20, 1999

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Mercer

Real Estate

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80 Pages

Funeral, memorial service set on Saturday for Chens

Bob Mackin News Reporter

WHEN 20-year-old William Chen went to Taiwan Aug. 3, he was the older brother to three sis-

ters.

He assumed a new role when he hurried home to West Vancouver Aug. 9 — guardian to 17-year- old Wendy and twin 12-year-olds Grace and Mary.

William Chen's three sisters and parents Susie and Louis were passengers on Sunbey, a Washington state pleasure craft chat collided with the Lafarge tugboat Jose Navarez and barge Texadn’stow linc. Sssnboy was on its way to English Bay for the Symphony of Fire fireworks on Aug. 7.

“Before, everything I did was to make my par- ents proud. Now the goal is to raise my sisters,”

: said William, a student of Asian studies at the

University of B.C. “I have to do whar my mom told me. She would always tell us, put your emo- tions aside and do what you have to do. Get the job done.

“By the time you get the job done, you proba- bly won't (cel as sad anymore. J keep reminding myself, just keep on going, don’t think about what you lost, but what you have to do in the present and the future. It’s all stuff my parents taught me.”

Susie and Louis Chen celebrated their birthdays Aug. 6, the day before the tragic boat accident. Susie, 47, and three other people drowned. Louis, 50, remains missing and is presumed dead by RCMP, The police called off the search Jess than two days after the Aug. 7 collision.

Susie, a real estate agent with New World Realty, taught Chinese language classes ar the King Edward Campus of Vancouver Community College in her spare time. She also helped at West Vancouver secondary whenever the school needed a translator. With Louis she co-owned Tri-Light Video, a Chinese video store in North Vancouver. Louis was a business consultant who enjoyed golf and photography. He used to hunt and dive when he was younger, and always took great joy in col- lecting, antiques.

The couple met at home in Taiwan at a deatistry run by Louis’ parents, said Wendy Chen. A romance blossomed and they even- tually married. They moved to Brazil, where Susie worked in door-to-door sales. When they came to Canada in 1975 and set- tled in Burnaby, Susie became a nanny and house cleaner. Louis got into the home construction business.

The family went to Mexico and the Grand Canyon last December on vacation, their last together. The Chens, minus Wendy who was at summer school, travelled to Yellowstone National Park in July.

The Voice of North and West Vancouver since 1969

WILLIAM Chen (left) and sisters Grace, Wendy and Mary with a vived an Aug. 7 boat crash, but their parents weren't so lucky. Susie’s funeral is Saturday. Louis is missing and presumed dead.

Mercer 7

Provincial human rights commission has new targets

Among Susie Chen’s real estate clients was Li Jun Song from Bellevue, Wash. He became a family friend and brought his boat, Sunboy, to Vancouver for the Aug. 4 Symphony of Fire. Susie, Louis and the twins joined him on the boat for the opening night of the fireworks extravaganza. Wendy missed out on the expedi- tion because she went to a surprise birthday party for a friend. She came home the next morning to hear her mother raving about the experience.

“She told me I had to come on the boat next time with them because I'll have as much fun as they had,” Wendy said, gazing at the Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park from a window of the family home. She was wearing a black armband on her left arm, a traditional Chinese display of mourning. William didn’t have an armband, but he did have the early stages of a beard. According to Chinese custom, a son is not allowed to shave for three years after his parents die.

See Son page 3

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FREE

NEWS photo Terry Paters

portrait of their parents Louis and Susie. The three girfs sur-

Fatal boat crash recalled by survivor

Bob Mackin

News Reporter

WENDY Chen is grappling with the aftermath of her mother’s death and

father’s disappearance. Bur someday she will realize she’s a hero. The courageous 17-year-old West Vancouver girl was among

See Sister page 3

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