1933
Hwaja
2016
Hwaja Chung
March 20, 1933 — March 10, 2016
Obituary for Hwaja "Grandma" Chung
Hwaja "Grandma" Chung, 82, of Durango, CO passed away on Thursday March 10, 2016.
Grandma Chung was born in pre-war North Korea on March 20, 1933. She became a refugee of the Korean conflict and fled to Seoul, South Korea where she met and married Jerry Dickenson Sr. from Dunkirk, NY a soldier in the US Army infantry. They came to the United States in March of 1960.
Grandma Chung moved to Durango in 1988 after retiring from Ampex Corporation in Colorado Springs. In 1990 she opened and operated Grandma Chung's Asian Restaurant at 937 Main Ave. In 1998, after 8 years of operation Grandma Chung's restaurant closed. She attempted to retire again but her love of cooking for the public compelled her to take a position for Natures Oasis deli and eventually for Durango Natural Foods. In 2001 she opened and operated Grandma Chung's Deli in Skyridge. In 2003 she closed her deli in an attempt to retire again but found she couldn't. She went back to Durango Natural Foods and worked part time offering her most popular dishes. She continued to produce her famous kimchee, Secret Garlic Sauce and a few other products for the local grocery stores.
She enjoyed gardening, fishing, sewing, needlepoint, knitting, watercolors, winemaking and most of all cooking for others. She successfully co-authored a book which told her life story in her memoir "Rose the Fierce".
Grandma Chung is survived by her sons Hak K. Dickenson of Houston, TX, Hak S. Dickenson, of Phoenix, AZ., Jerry Dickenson, Jr of Durango and her daughters Kelly Mitchell and Shelby Dickenson both of Durango. She has 5 grandsons, 3 granddaughters and 11 great grandchildren.
Those that knew her say she had a memorable presence. She made many friends while living in Durango. This community embraced her with kindness, support and respect. Her life was truly enriched by the relationships she had. In gratitude for our wonderful community there will be a public memorial service for friends and family at Animas City Theatre, 128 E College Drive on Sunday April 3, 2016 from 2 - 4 PM.
There will be no public funeral. Her ashes will be scattered into the Pacific Ocean in a private family ceremony as directed by her will.
Grandma Chung was born in pre-war North Korea on March 20, 1933. She became a refugee of the Korean conflict and fled to Seoul, South Korea where she met and married Jerry Dickenson Sr. from Dunkirk, NY a soldier in the US Army infantry. They came to the United States in March of 1960.
Grandma Chung moved to Durango in 1988 after retiring from Ampex Corporation in Colorado Springs. In 1990 she opened and operated Grandma Chung's Asian Restaurant at 937 Main Ave. In 1998, after 8 years of operation Grandma Chung's restaurant closed. She attempted to retire again but her love of cooking for the public compelled her to take a position for Natures Oasis deli and eventually for Durango Natural Foods. In 2001 she opened and operated Grandma Chung's Deli in Skyridge. In 2003 she closed her deli in an attempt to retire again but found she couldn't. She went back to Durango Natural Foods and worked part time offering her most popular dishes. She continued to produce her famous kimchee, Secret Garlic Sauce and a few other products for the local grocery stores.
She enjoyed gardening, fishing, sewing, needlepoint, knitting, watercolors, winemaking and most of all cooking for others. She successfully co-authored a book which told her life story in her memoir "Rose the Fierce".
Grandma Chung is survived by her sons Hak K. Dickenson of Houston, TX, Hak S. Dickenson, of Phoenix, AZ., Jerry Dickenson, Jr of Durango and her daughters Kelly Mitchell and Shelby Dickenson both of Durango. She has 5 grandsons, 3 granddaughters and 11 great grandchildren.
Those that knew her say she had a memorable presence. She made many friends while living in Durango. This community embraced her with kindness, support and respect. Her life was truly enriched by the relationships she had. In gratitude for our wonderful community there will be a public memorial service for friends and family at Animas City Theatre, 128 E College Drive on Sunday April 3, 2016 from 2 - 4 PM.
There will be no public funeral. Her ashes will be scattered into the Pacific Ocean in a private family ceremony as directed by her will.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Hwaja Chung, please visit our flower store.
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