Obituary of Dr. Irene Fan Lai

Irene Fan Lai, Basking Ridge

Dr. Irene Fan Lai passed away Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at the Center for Hope in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.  Born January 8, 1931, in Guangzhou, China, she moved to Hong Kong in her twenties and then subsequently to Baltimore Maryland with her husband Stephen and infant son Fran.  She completed her residency at the Harbor Hospital in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. She ascended to the role of Chief Physician at the Mount Wilson State Hospital in Maryland.  Her son Gilbert was born while she led Mount Wilson.  In 1978, the family moved to Watchung, New Jersey where Irene became the Head of Hospital Based Homecare for the VA Hospital in East Orange.

Dr. Lai was extremely proud and honored to have served as a physician.  However, her greatest passion was her family. Irene came from a large family and was 1 of 10 siblings, many of whom she helped to relocate to the United States from China.  She was the wife of the late Dr. Stephen S. Lai; devoted mother of Fran Lai and his wife, Moya Chew-Lai; Gilbert Lai and his wife, Jane; cherished grandmother of Dr. Emmie Lai, Patrick, Tori and Olivia.  Irene leaves behind many other loving and caring family members, and friends. 

A viewing will be held at Higgins Home for Funerals Home in Watchung, New Jersey on Sunday, July 28 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Higgins Home for Funerals on Monday, July 29 beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Contributions in her honor can be made to the Kidneyfund.org https://www.kidneyfund.org