Susan Wong Chen

Susan Wong Chen was born on December 25, 1934 in Canton, China. She grew up there during the 2nd World War and immigrated to San Francisco with her family in 1945, following the end of the war. Her father, who served in the U.S. military, brought the family to begin a new life in America. She grew up in San Francisco’s Chinatown with her parents, Fay and Daniel Wong, and two younger brothers, Melvin and Fred, where she embraced her role as the eldest daughter.

She met her husband, William Chen, while he was a student at Caltech in Pasadena, California. They were married in 1956 and they raised three children together. She went on to earn her associate of arts degree from Pasadena City College.

They welcomed their first child, Rebecca, in 1958, their son Jeff in 1959, and a second son in 1966 - the same year they built their home in South Pasadena.

A devoted mother and wife, she poured her energy into raising her children. In the 1990s and early 2000s, she lovingly helped raise her eight grandchildren while managing family real estate alongside her husband.

She found joy in the simple pleasures: tending to her loquat trees, sipping black coffee, and enjoying Chinese food. She had a wide circle of friends and always looked forward to catching up with them over phone calls.

Though her later years were marked by health challenges, she remained in her beloved South Pasadena home until August, 2024 when she moved to Orange County to be closer to her son, Jeff and his family. She spent much time in hospitals and nursing homes. She passed away peacefully in her sleep in Orange, California at a nursing facility in the early morning of May 26, 2025.

Susan is survived by her two children, Jeff Chen and Greg Chen; her brothers, Melvin Wong and Fred Wong; eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill Chen and her daughter, Rebecca Tso.

Funeral service for Susan Chen: Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Rose Hills Memorial Park - Memorial Chapel, 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, California 90601. A Graveside service will follow immediately.

All are invited to a memorial luncheon at Atlantic Seafood & Dimsum Restaurant @ 500 N. Atlantic Blvd, Suite 200, Monterey Park, CA 91754 Tel. 626 872-0388 at 2:00 PM, June 21, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Susan’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research:

https://tribute.michaeljfox.org/tribute-page.php?id=3227&np=true