Susan Feng Chinn
September 26, 1930 - June 2, 2025
Obituary
Our loving mother, Susan Feng Chinn died peacefully on June 2, 2025, in Bellevue, WA. She was 94 years old.
Susan was Born in Toishan, Guandong Province in China on September 26, 1930, the only daughter of Gick Louie and Lew Yin. She was raised by her mother in China during the turbulent and difficult time before and during World War II while, as typical in that time, her father was working and living in Canada. After the war ended, she married Gene S. Chinn, who resided in Seattle, Washington at the time. She remained in China and bore her first child before she was able to join her husband in Seattle in 1952.
She faced many challenges as an immigrant in the new world. She had to learn how to manage the household with meager income to make sure her three children had all their needs met.
After five years in Seattle, the family moved to a small town in Eastern Washington. Hers was the first Chinese family in Richland. Financially, it was a good move, initially the isolation and culture shock were very hard. She eventually made friends and, as always, made sure her children had a happy childhood.
After twelve years she moved back to Seattle where the oldest child was attending college and where her two daughters would also attend college. Her mother had immigrated to America and was also residing in Seattle. Her desire was always to keep her family close.
She worked at a sewing factory for several years, but her primary focus was always the love and wellbeing of her four children.
Her hobby was gardening, not flowers but Chinese vegetables. She was a great cook of Chinese cuisine and loved to serve her own vegetables. She would have a garden at every home.
In the last years of her life, she experienced multiple strokes that progressively destroyed her short-term memory and eventually her long-term memories. Until the end, however, she retained her sweet and pleasant personality. She passed away comfortably under hospice care.
Susan was predeceased by her husband of 65 years Gene Chinn. She is survived by her children in birth order, Martin Chinn (Doreen Chiu) of Princeton, NJ; Linda Badger (Scott) of Renton, WA; Janet Chu (Larry) of Bellevue, WA, Menzie Chinn (Laura Schwendinger) of Madison, WI. She was a beloved grandmother to Jason Chinn, Hally Chu, Amy Badger-Asaravala and Elizabeth Badger, Isabelle Chu, Nathan Chu and great-grandmother to Taran and Devan Asaravala.
Memorial contributions can be made to Kin On, an Asian organization that provides health services to aging Asian adult and families. The website is kinon.org.
