Chu Pei Pei Matheny

Chu Pei Pei Matheny, or “Lisa” as she was known to family and friends, passed away on December 29, 2024. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and in recent years great-grandmother. Born in Shanghai, China on the 14th day of the fifth lunar month of 1932 or 1934 - no one really knows. As a child she lived through China’s war with Japan. She recalls hiding in the mountains with her family for many years to escape Japanese bomb attacks. Shortly before the fall of mainland China to communism in 1949, she travelled to Taiwan with her uncle, not knowing at that time she would never return home to her family.

In Taiwan, the trajectory of her life changed when she met a young man from Ohio at an Embassy dance named “Pete” (as her husband Art was known at the time.) To this day, he swears that the moment he saw her, he knew she was the woman he would marry. After four years of counseling, red tape, and bureaucracy, the governments of Taiwan and the United States finally granted them permission to marry. Art and Lisa were married on September 4, 1958, and never looked back.

Her adventures in the United States began with Art finding a small apartment for them in Norfolk, VA, giving her a little money, and then heading to sea on deployment. On her own, Lisa had to adapt to a new language and learn how to survive in a strange, new country. By the time Art was commissioned as an officer, Lisa was a polished Navy wife, excellent cook and hostess, as well as a tireless mother to two daughters. She became a naturalized citizen in 1967. Lisa was also an outstanding community volunteer, recognized for her dedicated service to the Navy Relief Society.

Retirement from the Navy brought Lisa and Art to northern Virginia, where they have enjoyed living since 1983. Living in the Fair Oaks area of Fairfax for 34 years, she loved the home they made there as well as gardening, baking and spending time with her daughters and growing family. They moved to Vinson Hall in 2018 where they continued to enjoy time with family. She enjoyed playing games - rummy and Rummikub were favorite pastimes. Lisa especially loved Christmas and celebrating Chinese New Year, when she would make delicious traditional dishes and gather the family around for an amazing feast and handing out of red envelopes. She knew how to make every holiday magical, and every person present feel special.

Lisa is survived by Art, her devoted husband of 66 years, daughters Melissa Matheny Denkler and Melinda Matheny (Paul Martin), three granddaughters Emmalee Zaatar (Daniel), Caitlyn Conner (Jonathan), and Audrey Tallon (Chase), and five great-children Zia and Reyah Zaatar, Callan and Jon Mark Conner, and Rowan Tallon, all of whom will miss her loving smile. A private family moment of prayer will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations can be made to the Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation, which actively supports the residents and programs of the Vinson Hall Retirement Community

https://www.vinsonhall.org/partners-donors