Alhambra, California
Overview
Alhambra is a city in Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Valley, located approximately 8 miles from downtown Los Angeles. It has a significant Chinese-American and Asian-American population and is where Betty Chan died on November 9, 2022, at age 87.
Significance to Family
Betty Chan’s Death
Date: November 9, 2022 Age: 87 years old (born September 13, 1935) Location: Alhambra, California
Context:
- Betty died approximately 3 months after her husband Jesse Chan (died August 9, 2022)
- Both buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale
- Completed migration journey from Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines → Manila, Philippines → Taipei, Taiwan → Los Angeles, California area
Historical Context
Alhambra Demographics
Chinese-American Community:
- Significant Chinese-American population in San Gabriel Valley
- Part of larger Chinese-American settlement in east Los Angeles County
- Many Chinese-Filipino families in area
- Cultural institutions, churches, community centers
Location:
- San Gabriel Valley
- East of downtown Los Angeles
- Near other cities with large Asian populations (Monterey Park, San Gabriel, etc.)
- Accessible to Los Angeles, California where family is based
End of Migration Journey
Betty’s final location in Alhambra completes multi-generational migration:
Betty’s Journey:
- Born: Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines (1935)
- Childhood: Daet, Binondo, Manila, various wartime refuges
- Young adult: Manila, Philippines (1945-1968)
- Middle years: Taipei, Taiwan (1968-1990)
- Later years: Los Angeles, California area (1990-2022)
- Died: Alhambra, California (2022)
Three Generations, Four Countries:
- Betty’s generation: Born Philippines, lived Taiwan, died USA
- Children’s generation: Born Philippines/Taiwan, educated USA
- Grandchildren’s generation: Born and raised USA
Legacy
Betty Chan (1935-2022):
- WWII survivor
- Fled Japanese occupation multiple times as child
- Mathematics graduate (unusual for 1950s woman)
- Payroll Supervisor at Eastern Textile Factory
- Mother of four highly educated children
- Grandmother of eight
- “By the Grace of God” - her constant refrain
- Lived to see three generations thrive in America
The quiet ending in Alhambra contrasts with the dramatic journey - from wartime Philippines to peaceful San Gabriel Valley, from displacement and danger to suburban stability, from uncertain childhood to seeing descendants flourish.
Research Questions
- Did Betty live in Alhambra or was she visiting/in care facility?
- Where in Alhambra did incident occur?
- Cause of death?
- Was she living with family members?
- How close is Alhambra to where Rose/Warren live?
- Church or community connections in Alhambra?
- Had Betty been in declining health?
- Details of her final years?