Weihong "Whitney" Zhao

Surrounded by her family and friends, Weihong (Whitney) Zhao of Walpole, MA passed away peacefully on June 16, 2026.

Whitney was born in 1970 in Zhangjiakou, China to Changyu Yang, her mother, and Zhixin Zhao, her father. She received her undergraduate degree in English Literature from Beihang University in Beijing, China in 1995. During her university years, she served as an editor for campus publications in which she published poetry and essays. Whitney went on to work in both Beijing and Shanghai, serving in administrative and project management roles with multinational companies. She came to the United States in 2004 to attend the Hult International Business School in Cambridge, MA. Whitney earned her MBA from Hult in 2006 and then worked as a project manager or senior project manager here in the United States for Lionbridge Technologies, WeLocalize, Waters Corporation, and Gainwell Technologies. Her work colleagues remember her as a kind, thoughtful, and warm person with a people-first style of leading. Whether as a student or a professional, in China or the United States, Whitney always strived to excel.

She married her husband, Jonathan W. Francis of Walpole, Massachusetts, in 2009, and gave birth to their son, Carlough Zhao Francis, in 2011.

She is survived by her husband, her son, her parents, her sister, Weihua Zhao, and her brother-in-law, Huijun Shi, her niece, Jing Shi; and her niece's husband, Michael ("Xiaomi").

Whitney loved spending time with her family and friends, cooking Chinese food, and practicing Buddhism. She often joked that the Chinese dishes she made were “the best ever”. She taught Carlough to swim when he was a boy and steadfastly partnered with him in his table tennis accomplishments. She helped him learn Chinese language and culture, regularly traveling to China with him during the summer.

Whitney was a loving and devoted daughter. She maintained a close relationship with her parents despite the great distance between them. She expressed her love with gifts and by faithfully calling or messaging them with warm wishes. She also cared deeply for her sister's family, with whom she shared a close and loving bond.

Whitney was deeply devoted to the practice of Buddhism. She frequently helped others understand and study Buddhist teachings. Following Whitney’s passing, fellow Buddhist practitioners who had practiced alongside her shared heartfelt tributes, remembering her as an exceptionally wise, diligent, and kind practitioner who was always willing to help others.

A memorial service and collation will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday August 19, 2026, at The United Church in Walpole, 30 Common Street, Walpole, MA. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Whitney’s name may be made to the Dharma Drum Mountain Massachusetts Buddhism Association at 319 Lowell Street, Lexington, MA 02420 or by visiting https://www.ddmmba.org/home/?lang=en and selecting “Support Us”.

Arrangements by James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, Walpole.