Theresa Kwok Kiu Kwan Fellows, 76, died peacefully, on Thursday, January 6, 2022 in Seattle, surrounded by her family.

Theresa was born on July 28, 1945 in Hong Kong, the sole daughter of Kwan Kim Sing and Kwan Lam Suk Yin's five children.  She found sisterhood with her two female cousins, Suzanne and Georgina, whose families joined Theresa's to become one large extended family.  Theresa attended elementary and high school at St. Mary's Canossian College in Hong Kong, where she was lovingly nicknamed Cutie.  She showed promise in creative writing, and after winning a contest for an English writing competition, she decided that she could tackle high school and college in the United States.  She applied for a passport without the knowledge of her parents and notified them of her pending departure against their wishes once she got accepted into Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, NY.  Theresa charmed all her new American friends and continued her education at Georgian Court College in Lakewood, NJ, spending holidays with Cousin Philip Chan's family in Long Island, NY and a summer waitressing in a diner on the Jersey Shore.

After returning to Hong Kong, Theresa met and married Dr. Lawrence Chan with whom she had two daughters.  During that time, she became active in pushing for recognition of spousal abuse in Hong Kong with media and radio educational promotions.  She also worked extensively for factory worker rights in Kwun Tong.  When her marriage ended, she spirited her daughters from Hong Kong so they could get the same educational opportunity as she did.  This time, she followed her brother, Bill and his young family to Chicago, where they helped Theresa's family acculturate.  When her daughters got accepted into boarding schools on the east coast, she decided to follow them, settling in Rhode Island, close to her other two brothers, Bernie and Dick and their families. With the kids out of the house, Theresa decided to further her education by enrolling in the Master's program in Social Work and Counseling at Boston University.  This degree led her into a 20 some year worldwide career in the field.

The stars aligned when Bill's friend from Chicago, Peggy Tan, introduced her to a co-worker, Steve Fellows from Billings, MT, who told Peggy that he would like to meet someone with two daughters.  As Peggy recounted, "She was the only woman I know who is crazy enough to fly with Steve in his little airplane."  The couple married less than a year after they met, logging many hours in Steve's plane; thus, commenced an around-the-world adventure from New York City, to Hong Kong, then to South Korea.  The couple finally settled in Seattle, where they have spent the last 16 years waltzing, salsa and tango dancing into a new community of friends.

Theresa's life was defined by her commitment to helping others, an example set by her parents.  Not only did all her friends and family sought her for help and advice, but Theresa always worked with local social service and counseling agencies wherever she lived, benefiting mostly Chinese communities throughout the world.  Theresa's other loves include eating gourmet foods in noteworthy restaurants and occasionally, the dingy hole-in-the-wall that passed her standards.  She traveled around the world with friends and family, always impeccably dressed like a "style icon".  As a patron of the arts, she attended many concerts and performances around the world.  She also enjoyed taking long walks and even longer drives wherever she chose to travel, even if it took her some time to figure out which side of the road is the right side.  Raised as a city girl, she nonetheless embraced all the outdoor activities inherent to her Montana in-laws, such as riding, hunting and skinning deer.  Throughout the years, she and Steve hosted numerous huge dinner parties, opening their home to friends and family alike.  As the years passed, she transformed into an adoring grandmother and doting great aunt, as well as a wonderfully patient caretaker to her mother.  She will be missed most for her independent spirit, generous and patient nature, as well as her beautifully serene smile.

Theresa is survived by her husband, Steve, daughter Charmaine (Hery), daughter Charleen (Tim) and grandsons Leo and Oliver.  

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to a favorite charity of your choice.  

A celebration of Theresa's life will take place virtually on February 5, 2022 at 5pm PST.  A link will be forthcoming.