Hak Chhun

Mr. Hak Chhun was born on December 1, 1927 in Battambang, Cambodia. He was the son of Ung Chhun and Lay Chhun. He had 5 sisters and 2 brothers and was the 7th child and the middle of the 2 brothers. He is survived by his wife, Sangath Inn, his 4 children, Heng, Kim, Meng and Pia , and 4 grandchildren, Fayleen, Caila, Kyle and Pierson.

In Cambodia, he was an entrepreneur and a successful businessman. With his success, he was able to help his wife’s family by putting her siblings through school and providing other financial support. He took his family and fled from Cambodia in 1979 to America so that he could provide a better life for his children.

Mr. Hak Chhun and his family first arrived in America in 1981 to the city of Chicago after having spent 2 years in refugee camp in Thailand. In 1983, he relocated the family to San Jose, California due to the warmer climate. He had remained in San Jose ever since. He was a kind person and had a big heart, always willing to help out others. He was a very good husband who helped his wife with chores around the house, such as cooking and cleaning. He was also talented. He tailored clothes and cooked tasty meals. He was a supportive father that was both firm and strict, but always wanted to guide his children on the right path in life. He accomplished that goal as he witnessed all 4 children finished schooling, having good careers and loving spouses. In addition, he helped care for his first 3 grandchildren while their parents established their careers.

Gardening became Mr. Hak Chhun’s hobby since his wife loved to eat fresh picked fruit. He planted and cultivated many fruit trees in the backyard so that his wife would have plenty to eat. Cleaning up after his wife became an unintended hobby since he liked things in an orderly fashion. While his wife liked to buy food for the family and guests, Mr. Chhun would be the one to finish the leftovers and overripe bananas. He always wanted the best for others, but would settle for less for himself.

Mr. Hak Chhun had asthma most of his life, and his health became worse as he aged. Six years ago, he developed shingles across his left back. Ever since then, he lived with excruciating nerve pain caused by the damage from the shingles. The family tried many different treatments and visited many specialists for the nerve pain, but nothing seemed to work. Despite all the pain, he survived for 6 years with both his worsening asthma and nerve pain. He remained a fighter until the very end when God called him home. He passed away at the age of 85 at home in peace and without pain on Thurs, April 12th surrounded by loved ones.