Obituary of Lucy Rita Chew

Chapel Hill, NC - Lucy Rita Chew, 90, passed away peacefully at home, November 2, 2013. Born in Teluk Anson, Malaysia, she attended the University of Melbourne, Australia. It was there she met and married her husband of 64 years, Victor Chew. Moving to the US in 1955, they lived in Gainesville, FL, Raleigh, NC, Dahlgren, VA, Satellite Beach FL, Athens, GA until Gainesville became home for 36 years before their move to Chapel Hill. Her entire life, Lucy had a zest for everything she did and readiness to take on a new challenge. When asked how she stayed so slim, she'd reply "Ballroom dancing and Hot Sauce". Everything she did in life had a dose of Hot Sauce added to it. Lucy was a chef extraordinaire - she loved to cook and relished the sight of guests enjoying the fruits of her labor. Meals were currency exchange of the heart. Lucy's profession as well as her most treasured pastime was sewing. Her expert skill was a unique and rare talent which allowed her to be able to tackle anything from furniture upholstery to wedding dresses. Lucy loved tennis for many years until a sun allergy moved her indoors to aerobics classes. With Lucy's grace, athleticism, elegance and wonderful talent to create beautiful one-of-a-kind gowns, ballroom dancing was the perfect storm that she discovered in her 70s. Lucy could not resist the opportunity to make quick trips to Vegas, loved going on cruises and became a regular at the Captains Circle events. Despite serious health setbacks, she always bounded back with fierce determination and continued her passions well into her mid 80s. Lucy had an effervescent smile would lighten up a room - she was at ease in striking up conversations with strangers and them likewise. Lucy had good friends who were loyal, real to the core and truly a reflection of her. She was proud of her talents, heritage, US citizenship, faith, generosity, family and who she was. Lucy was a dedicated wife, mother and devoted to her family. Her spunk and Hot Sauce zeal will be dearly missed. She is survived by her husband Victor Chew; Trish Chew and Rob Whalen of Colorado; Leonard and Cheryl Chew and children Noelle, Julia, Olivia of Florida; Maureen Chew and Tony Bennett and children Rita, Michael, Kipp of North Carolina; sisters Agnes Low and Susie Foong of Singapore, brother Stephen Chin of Montreal and scores of Chin and Chew family members worldwide. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to a charity of choice. Visitation will be Friday, Nov 8, 6:00-8:00 pm at Walker's Funeral Home, Chapel Hill, NC with a Celebration of Life Mass at Holy Infant Catholic Church, Durham, NC, Saturday, Nov 9, 10am.