Grace Chien-Teh Chiang

Psalm 71:18: "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come." NIV.

Grace Chien-Teh Chiang, age 94, a resident of Belmont Village in Carol Stream, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. She was born September 14, 1928 in Wuchang, Hubei, China to Reverend Edward Szu Hwa Lin and Miriam Wen Fang Fan.

Grace was the fourth of five children in the Lin family. Her childhood was interrupted by the Japanese invasion of China, and six year old Grace and her family fled to Chengdu, Sichuan to escape the horrors of war. After the war, sixteen year old Grace and her family returned home where she went to college. During her second year in college, she was urgently called home. Her mother stated she needed to leave immediately with two sisters on a military plane to Taiwan to escape the Communist takeover of China. Grace was not able to say goodbye to her father, a Christian pastor, because he was leading an evangelistic meeting in another city. He left her a letter telling her that God's eyes are on the sparrow and he knew God would always watch over her. The goodbye hug Grace received from her mother was the last time she would ever hug or see either of her parents. Eighteen months later her father was imprisoned and died at the hands of the communist regime. Grace abandoned her dream of becoming a doctor to work to support her and her fifteen year old sister. Grace worked at Youth For Christ. She drew pictures for evangelistic meetings, did correspondence, and sang in a trio at church meetings, including at a Billy Graham Crusade. Grace used the many hymns and Bible verses she learned at Youth For Christ to regularly share her story and faith in God. Later while working as a secretary at her church in Taipei, she met Dr. David Chiang in the choir. They were married in 1957. They immigrated to the United States in 1975 with their two sons, and were married 63 years when David died December 7, 2020.

Grace loved her Lord Jesus and trusted Him to help her through the many challenges she faced. She used her gift of music in her church to sing in the choir, sometimes direct, and sing solos. Grace openly shared her faith with others with the hope that they also find the peace, joy, and strength she experienced.

Grace loved people. She was a loving mother who prayed and encouraged her sons, and later her grandchildren and great grand-daughter to love God with their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Her love of people was not limited to family members, but also to her church family, hosting Bible Studies and dinners at her home. She, with David as her assistant, was an amazing cook of delicious Chinese dishes. Her joyful attitude, graceful spirit, and contagious smile were encouraging to many who crossed her path, the last at Belmont Assisted Living where she brightened the lives of both staff and residents.

Grace once told her granddaughter: "Remember to walk with the Lord always. He will be with you all the time. You may not understand why things happen, but it happens for your good. The Lord knows what you need, not what you want.  He provides. He will provide everything you need. He will comfort your heartache. To God be the glory!"

Grace is survived by her sons James (Judy), and Paul (Marsha), and six grandchildren: Jonathan, Caleb (Sara), Melody, Joshua, Joel, and Annagrace, and great granddaughter Sophia Grace. She was preceded in death by her husband David, parents, and four siblings.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at Chinese Christian Mandarin Church 9S565 Clarendon Hills Rd., Willowbrook, IL 60527. A visitation time to greet the family will follow the service.

Grace will be interred at the Wheaton Cemetery next to her husband David in a private family burial.

Grace requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be directed to the Chinese Christian Mandarin Church of Willowbrook, IL.