Chung Ja Chen

Chung Ja Chen, age 65, died at her home in Denver on Wednesday, December 14, 2016. She passed peacefully in her sleep from complications of cancer.

Born on March 23, 1951 in Chung Jo, South Korea, Chung was the first child of Hee Sook Chun and Han Su Kang. She left Korea at age 18 determined to begin a new life in the United States. Her early years in the US were difficult; she held a series of odd jobs to provide for herself while learning English and attending Trenton State College. Ever tenacious, capable, and resourceful, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and went on to open the first of her wig and beauty supply stores, by which she would bring her three sisters and Mother across the ocean. In 1981, she met her husband, An-Ge Chen. They married on January 10, 1982.

With her husband, Chung raised four daughters. For them, she made countless willing sacrifices to provide an enriched upbringing and impart the strength of character that she, herself, embodied. In her life, Chung's greatest joy was family and having all of her daughters gathered around her.

In her final hours, she was surrounded by the love and warmth of the family whom she loved and gave so much.
She is survived by her mother; husband; four daughters, SuJean Lacy, Jayne Chen, Sz-Min Harley, and Yimin Chen; three grandchildren, Aviva Chen-Oretsky, Margaret Harley and Jonah Harley; and three sisters, Yun Kang, Kyong Walker, and Mija Kang.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either Denver Korean Seventh Day Adventist Church 15150 East Evans Ave, Aurora CO 80014 or Halcyon Hospice and Palliative Care, P.O. Box 177, Mead CO, 80542.

Viewing and services will be held at Denver Korean Seventh Day Adventist Church at 6pm on Tuesday, December 20, 2016.

To share a memory of Chung or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.