Gloria Young Chun
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On Sunday, November 21, 2021, Gloria Young Chun passed away peacefully at home at age 93. She is predeceased by her beloved husband, Edmund Leong Fo Chun.
Gloria was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai'i and was number eight ("Apat," her maiden middle name) of eleven children. Her family ran a fruit and vegetable stand at Oahu Market in Honolulu's Chinatown for many years. Gloria attended St. Patrick School. In her youth, she helped her family by cooking for them and by caring for her younger siblings.
In 1953, Gloria married the love of her life, Ed. Together, they raised five children (Garett, Renne, Darlene, Randall, and Cynthia) and operated a thriving two-person real estate business. Gloria held her broker's license and, with her typical grace, wore many hats: serving as office manager, bookkeeper, secretary, property manager, and broker, among other roles.
At home, Gloria and Ed delighted filling their home with family and friends. To their good fortune, Gloria turned after-school dinners into feasts and holiday gatherings into celebrations. She enjoyed creating new recipes, including her signature BBQ sauce, whipping up the "best" version of numerous family favorites, and cooking up any and all of the wild game or fish that Ed would bring home.
Gloria also filled their home and the lives of those around her with her kindness and love of life. She met every situation?including wayward or naughty children?with kindness and patience, never scolding or uttering a harsh word. Even after becoming parents, she and Ed enjoyed dancing in the evening, eventually taking up ballroom dancing at Ala Wai. She loved music, regularly watched the Lawrence Welk show with her family, and could be heard throughout the house whistling tunes like "Here is Happiness." She was also a skilled and fiercely competitive checkers player (and a gracious winner) throughout her life. Gloria enjoyed traveling the world with Ed, including trips to Australia, the Soviet Union, and throughout Asia. They also regularly saw family on the Mainland, played blackjack in Las Vegas, and fished in Alaska in the summer.
In retirement, Gloria cherished regular get-togethers with her sisters and brother-in-law over dim sum and relaxing among the waves and sand at Makaha Beach with Ed and their grandchildren. She especially enjoyed long hours spent weeding in the front yard and taking evening walks with Ed in their Manoa neighborhood.
Good natured, soft spoken, hard-working, patient, and kind, Gloria will be held in loving memory by her family, friends, and all who had the good fortune of knowing her.
Per her wishes, a small graveside service was held at Diamond Head Memorial Park.
She is survived by three of her sisters (Beatrice Wong, Mary Chang, and Jeannie Yuen); five children: Garett (Laurie) Chun, Renne (Mark) Chun, Darlene (Mike) Tavepholjalern, Randall Chun, Cynthia Pena; nine grandchildren: Jason Chun, Vincent (Kristy) Chun, Victor (Jayla) Chun, Maile, Max (Tiare), and Makana Tavepholjalern, and Ryan, Brad, and Nolan Pena; and one great-grandchild: Raiden Chun.