Queen’s mourns sudden loss of Con-Ed student Bethany Qun Yi Yan

Flags across the Queen’s University campus have been lowered to half-mast today in memory of Queen’s University student Bethany “Boat” Qun Yi Yan, who passed away suddenly on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020.

The 22-year-old was a fourth-year Concurrent Education (Con-Ed) student, and was studying French and history in the Faculty of Arts and Science. She was also a member of the celebrated Queen’s varsity cheerleading team, and her passion for cheerleading began during her days at Malvern Collegiate Institute in Toronto. Qun Yi Yan came to Kingston and Queen’s from Toronto in 2015.

“Bethany was a member of the award-winning varsity cheerleading team for four years. Her teammates describe ‘Boat’ as a treasured member of the Queen’s Cheerleading family who brought joy to everyone she met. She will be dearly missed by her teammates and the entire cheerleading community,” Queen’s University said in an article dedicated to her memory.

Qun Yi Yan was also passionate about education, and was “a valuable member of the Con-Ed community. Bethany will be remembered for her love for teaching and desire to make a difference in students’ lives,” the university said.

“Bethany was her loving father Daniel’s little princess, her loving mother Betty’s star baker. She will be deeply missed by her younger siblings, Abbey and Jordan, and her paternal grandmother Ma Ma. She was the apple of Ma Ma’s eye. She will also be deeply missed by her Aunt Amy and cousins Michael, Emily and Donhill,” Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre said in an obituary. “She will leave a huge void in the lives of her maternal grandparents Goong Goong and Por Por, with whom she loved making Chinese dumplings. She will also be dearly missed by her Uncle Moonie and cousin Laurelyn; Uncle Richie; Uncle Gord and Aunt Bo, and cousin, MacKenzie; and Uncle Sean and Aunt Jean, and cousins Lucas and Megan.”

A celebration of life will take place at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020.

To remember her love of cheerleading and education, Queen’s University has set up the Bethany Qun Yi Yan Memorial Fund that will support students in the Faculty of Education, with preference to members of the cheerleading team.

Queen’s would like to remind students of the supports available to any students in need.

“Students in need of support are encouraged to contact the multi-faith chaplain or the other support services available on campus, including Empower Me, and Good2Talk. Faculty and staff in need of support can also access the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), provided by Homewood Health, by visiting the Queen’s Human Resources website. For 24-hour EFAP services call 1-800-663-1142 (English) or 1-866-398-9505 (French),” the university said.