Sun Sem Chin

November 5, 1930 – June 24, 2026

Sun Sem Chin, the beloved matriarch of a large, multi-generational family, passed away peacefully in Triangle, Virginia, on June 24, 2026, at the age of 95.

Born in Guangzhou, China in 1930—the Year of the Horse—Sun, known to many as “Sunny,” attended school through the eighth grade, where she learned to read and write in Chinese. She often recalled childhood memories of her grandmother preparing simple lunches of rice and Chinese sausage. Family stories, including those of her great-grandmother and the era of traditional foot binding, remained part of her early life narrative and were shared across generations.

At 17, she married Hen Lee Chin (Eng) in China. The couple began building their family together and experienced both joy and early loss, including the passing of their infant daughter, Suk Fong.

Sun later immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong, arriving in San Francisco on May 20, 1952. She and her husband settled in Washington, D.C., where she worked in a Chinese hand laundry and as a waitress while raising her family.

In 1969, the family moved to Woodbridge, Virginia. In 1970, Sun and Hen Lee opened the Golden Dragon restaurant, which they operated together until its closure in 1986.

Following the passing of her husband, Sun remained closely centered around her family, spending her later years with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She was known within her family for frequently asking, “Have you eaten yet?”

Sun is reunited in death with her parents; her beloved husband, Hen Lee Chin; her infant daughter, Suk Fong Chin; and her cherished son, Gary Chin.

She is survived by her loving children, Sue Wong, Elaine Twiner, Pang Martin (and Fred Martin), Wee Chin (and Miyuki Matsuoka), and Ricky Chin (and Grace Tang); her daughter-in-law, Angelena Moy; her grandchildren Chris Morris, Welaine Memenza (and Ray Memenza), Kimberly Morris, Jacqueline Twiner-Allen (and Lawrence Allen), Melaine Wong, Caroline Goldwater (and Greg Goldwater), Andrew Chin (and Joyce Cavener), JR Chin, Kevin Chin, and Skyler Chin; her great-grandchildren Kendall Morris, Nick Memenza, Kymera Cordero, Samantha Goldwater, Madeline Goldwater, Peter Chin, Rowan Chin, and Nathan Chin; and her beloved sister, Mei Chin; her siblings, Jean Chin, Hugh Chin, Anne Lee, Patty Chin, and Jennifer Chin; and many extended family members, nieces, and nephews

A service to honor her life will be held at 11 a.m. on July 6, 2026 at Fort Lincoln Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you share a meal with someone you love in her memory.