KHON CHHUN, age 82, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania formerly of Cheshire, Connecticut, passed away suddenly at his home on May 15, 2022. Devoted husband to Sokha (nee Long). Loving father to Mony Icaza and her late husband, Peter; Theary Chhun; Theavy Chhun, Somaly Chhun, Panhavat Chhun and his wife, Sarah Abdelnour; and the late Sangkroh Chhun. Beloved grandfather to Michael Icaza, Melissa Icaza Stair and her husband Zack Stair, Eric Icaza, Somnarng Chhun, Jenda Chhun, Ellis Chhun, and Jude Chhun and great grandfather to Adam Stair. Dear brother to the late Khen Chhun and son to the late Iv Soth and Chhun Phoung.
Khon was born in Kampong Speu in rural Cambodia. He was the first of his family to receive a formal education. Khon began his studies at a wat in Prey Veng where he achieved first class honors and was certified to continue his education at Kampong Kantuot. He began his career as a primary school teacher in 1960. Khon continued studying while working as a primary school teacher for five years, and upon successful completion of multiple rounds of examinations he became a Professor of Literature at Lycée Sisowath in Phnom Penh. He continued his education while he worked as a Professor of Literature for ten years. Khon’s studies culminated with his successful completion of an examination which placed him as Head Professor at Lycée Battambang in early 1975. Khon was married, had three daughters and a blossoming successful career before the Cambodian genocide began in April 1975.
Khon’s experiences over the next four years were dominated by nightmares of family separation, sickness, violence, danger and death. Soon after his first son, Sangkroh was born in 1976, the Cambodian genocide took his first wife. It claimed Sangkroh before his second birthday.
However, these horrific experiences did not define the rest of Khon’s life. Stories of perseverance, strength, compassion, hope and love filled his next chapter.
Khon, his mother Iv Soth, and three daughters: Mony, Theary and Theavy escaped to the Khao-I-Dang refugee camp in Thailand in 1979. In 1980 they relocated to the Kamput refugee camp where Khon was placed into a position of education administration. There he met a beautiful young teacher, Sokha Long, and quickly fell in love. Khon and Sokha were engaged in Kamput in early 1981. Several months later they were relocated to a refugee camp in Chonburi where they stayed until September 1981. In September 1981 they boarded an airplane at the Lumpini transit center headed to the United States.
Khon and his family settled in Cheshire, Connecticut, through the sponsorship and support of several families at the Baptist Church of Cheshire, most notably from Fred and Grace Mauger. He attended night classes at the University of New Haven in pursuit of a bachelors degree in engineering while working full time as a technician at the US Surgical Corporation in North Haven, Connecticut. Almost every morning, Khon drove Sokha to the State Technical College where she attended full time. Mornings began before sunrise and ended at 10:00 PM or later. He also worked weekends.
Khon was also recognized as a scholar. He spoke as an expert on Khmer literature at an academic conference in Seattle, Washington, and was invited to teach a two week Khmer literature class to children in Amherst, Massachusetts. Education was always a top priority for Khon, and he made it a top priority for his children. He emphasized the importance of reading. He taught algebra and trigonometry with a black marker and scrap cardboard in a hot garage. He pushed and supported his children as hard as he could.
He loved his family.
Khon was a hero, and with Sokha worked tirelessly to create opportunities for his family to thrive as immigrants in a new country. He will always be loved and respected. He will never be forgotten.
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Sunday, May 22, 2022, from 11:30am until 1:30pm at Louis A. DiGiacomo Funeral Home Inc., 1055 Southampton Road, Philadelphia, PA 19116, immediately followed by a Buddhist service from 1:30pm until 3:00pm. Interment private.
Share memories at www.DiGiacomoFuneralHome.com.