Chuon, Sangeam 1957-2008

CHUON, CHITH, CHEM

Posted By: Ernie Braida (email)
Date: 1/12/2010 at 14:52:01

Sangeam Chuon, 51, of Pella, Iowa formerly of Cambodia, passed away Thursday evening at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House.

She is survived by her husband, Chem Chith of Pella, their son, Toney Chem of New York City, two sisters: Puch Chuon and Tream Chuon both of Pella and two brothers: Yok Choun of Keota and Thuch Chuon of Pella, Iowa.

Sangeam Chuon is the second youngest from a family of five that were born to Chuon Ham and Chheurn Yam. She was born in Pailin, Cambodia on May 3, 1957.

Her past in Cambodia with her loving family is a place where no one would like to visit again, but the tragic events involving the Khmer Rouge made her the woman she is now. She was loving, strong, and illuminated the room with her smile and laughter.

After her and her family escaped from Cambodia to Thailand, she met her devoted husband, Chem Chith, where they married and stayed in Thailand for a couple of years until they moved to the United States in 1979.

Sangeam and her husband were the very first couple in the family to receive such an honor to move to the U.S. and soon after, she helped the rest of her family move where they all experienced an unforgettable reunion. After getting herself settled in the U.S. with her family, Sangeam lived in Grinnell, Pella, then moved to Oskaloosa.

In 1986, she had a son, Toney Chem, and moved to Mississippi and Louisiana. Missing her big family, she moved back to Iowa where she permanently resided in Pella. She spent most of her time working at odd jobs and taking care of her only son. She enjoyed gardening, knitting and sewing, cooking, playing with children, and enjoyed the company of others at her home.

Sangeam is truly a fighter. She stared at death in 1992 and survived an accidental overdose where she slipped into a coma and doctors believed she wouldn’t have made it. But, a miraculous blood transfusion revived her back into the world. In addition, she also battled diabetes and in February 2003, she had to start dialysis where she became weak but never gave up hope. She made new and loving friends there and shared numerous stories to them about her determined and caring son.

On December 7, 2008, she experienced a brain hemorrhage and passed peacefully at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House on the evening of December 11, 2008.

Some of the many who will remember her grand and loving spirit are her husband, Chem Chith; their son, Toney Chem, her sisters Puch Chuon and Tream Chuon and her husband, Sarin Phoung, her older brother, Yok Choun and his wife Sarin Tuy, and her youngest of all brother, Thuch Chuon.

Sangeam Chuon was infamous with nick-naming her many nieces and nephews and they will all cherish her kind heart.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery

Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home