Obituary

Esther Hu Chen

Esther Hu Chen passed away on March 26, 2025, at the age of 80, in her home in Laguna Niguel.

She was a woman of grace and beauty, known for her radiant smile, signature dimple, and impeccable sense of stye. She found joy in walking the trails of Laguna Niguel, local beach trails, and one of her favorite spots, the marina at Dana Point. She embraced yoga as part of her active lifestyle, loved ballroom dancing, playing bridge, and nibbling on her favorite snacks. Classical music was often in the background, but when it came to karaoke, she sang with gusto. She also enjoyed participating in local church activities and her book club. More than anything, she cherished her family—her eyes would light up with affection whenever she spoke of them.

In the diary of Esther’s father, an entry shares a sweet story describing her first day of school. Esther’s mother came home and proudly declared that their daughter was the prettiest child, like a phoenix among hens (a Chinese saying). Prettiest but also not the most hardworking, she often admitted that she did not like to study and much preferred having fun.

She would laughingly recall how later as a young, pretty schoolteacher, her male students would develop crushes on her and chase after her bike as she rode home.

Eventually, she emigrated to the U.S., became a wife and mother, and worked in computers (well before the Internet age), adapting to the new level of responsibility. She was typically the most hardworking and reliable employee—when one company went out of business, she was the one employee they kept on until the doors closed.

Esther acknowledged a serious phobia of cats (a challenge given that her eldest daughter has two), but was calm around her other daughter’s dogs. She was definitely more a people person—very social, enjoying the company of friends made over 8 decades and family spread across both coasts, as well as Taiwan, where she grew up.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tsunming Chen. She is survived by her two daughters, Paige Chen and Janice Hrabovszky, as well as her brother, Jian-hwa Hu and sisters, Siao-yun Grace Hu Wang and Siao-Chen Hu.

Esther left us too soon, will be dearly missed, and will forever be in our thoughts.