Dr. Chong Chen

September 10, 1943 – July 22, 2026

Dr. Chong Chen entered the presence of his Lord and Savior on July 22, 2026, at the age of 82.

Chong was born on September 10, 1943, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. A physician by training and a caregiver by nature, he lived his life with quiet devotion, deep intelligence, and a generous heart. His profession reflected who he was at his core: someone who cared deeply for others and went out of his way to help whenever help was needed.

In 1969, Chong married the love of his life, Yun Shiu. Together they built a family centered on faith, love, and steadfast commitment. They were blessed with two daughters, Connie (New York) and Jessica (Kentucky), and later welcomed Jessica’s husband, Chris Sobaszek, into the family.

As the only man in a household of women, Chong took his role seriously and lovingly. He looked after his wife and daughters with a devotion that was both protective and tender. He wanted his girls to be safe, capable, and cared for—and he made sure no problem ever felt too big when Dad was nearby.

In his younger years, he enjoyed playing tennis, a passion that helped inspire Connie’s own love for the sport. To his daughters, he was the person who could fix everything. A broken appliance, a computer issue, a house problem, a confusing instruction manual, or a question no one else could answer—somehow, Dad could figure it out. And if he did not know the answer right away, he had the patience and determination to learn. A favorite place in childhood for Jessica was at his side handing him tools as he did household repairs and improvements, inspiring her path in engineering.

Later, he found joy in gardening, similar to his father, and cooking a few favorite Taiwanese specialties that brought comfort, memory, and home to the family table.

Chong’s intelligence showed in many ways. He was extremely fond of playing bridge. He loved the strategy, discipline, and challenge of the game. He approached bridge much as he approached life—with curiosity, discipline, and a desire to help others. After reading books by bridge experts, he would thoughtfully distill complex strategies into simplified guides, that helped newer players learn and enjoy the game.

That was one of Chong’s greatest gifts; he gave freely. He was generous to a fault—with his time, his knowledge, his energy, and his love. He helped family, friends, neighbors, and anyone who needed him, often putting others before himself. In Laguna Woods, he became something of a neighborhood help desk, especially for computer problems. Many people benefited from his sharp mind, calm presence, and willingness to sit patiently until the problem was solved.

Although Chong was a homebody at heart, his life reached far beyond the walls of his home. He touched people not through grand gestures, but through steady, practical acts of love: showing up, fixing what was broken, sharing his faith, and helping without expecting anything in return. As Chong and Yun Shiu relocated from their Chicago community to Laguna Woods, they found the same kindness, generosity, and devotion that manifested in the steady stream of love and support in his final days, and continues now through this difficult transition.

His family will remember him most as a devoted husband, a loving father, a kind uncle, and an example of the qualities they continue to strive toward: patience, generosity, intelligence, faithfulness, humility, and love. He taught not by lectures, but by the way he lived. He showed his daughters what it means to care for people fully, faithfully, and without needing recognition.

Chong is survived by his beloved wife, Yun Shiu; his daughters, Connie Chen and Jessica Chen; his son-in-law, Chris Sobaszek.

While his family grieves his absence, they are grateful for the life he lived and the love he gave so freely. His legacy lives on in the family he cherished, the friends and neighbors he helped, and the faith he reflected in his daily life.

To us, he was simply Dad—the person who always showed up, always knew how to help, and always looked after his girls. We will miss his wisdom, his patience, his debates, his quiet generosity, and the comfort of knowing that, with Dad, we were always cared for.

Family and friends are warmly invited to join us for a time of remembrance as we honor the life of our beloved husband, father, and friend Chong Chen.

Funeral Ceremony
Thursday, July 30th
3:00-5:00pm
O’Connor Mortuary (extra parking available next door)
Funeral Home in Laguna Hills, CA | O'Connor Mortuary
25301 Alicia Parkway
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 581-4300