The Visit Of Chew Boon Juan’s Great Grandchildren From USA

From USA with Love, Chew Boon Juan's great grandchildren

The Chew clan of Ipoh received some very important guests in July. The great grandchildren of Chew Boon Juan from the United States of America were in Ipoh.

They are the children of Herbert and Esther Chew. Herbert being the son of Chew Choon Siew and Precious Kwan. 

Herbert had passed on in 2001 and Esther came out to Ipoh with her children and grandchildren.

Herbert and Esther Chew marriage in New York, USA. Back row (6th from left) Precious Chew, Esther Chew, Herbert Chew, Chew Wan Kong (Herberts brother). Centre row (2nd from left) Barbara Chew (Herberts sister) 4th from left Chew Gaik Swee (Herberts aunt) 

Seated Chew Choon Siew and Precious Chew. Back row Robert Chew Chi Kong (Herberts brother) Esther and Herbert Chew. Pix taken in Ipoh.

“It was not easy to gather the family to come out together but we managed it and here we are” said Esther.

Esther has four children and lives in New York. Her eldest Philip lives in Los Angeles, then Peter in Boston, Phyllis in Washington and Paul in San Francisco.

They had arrived at the Chew museum to view the family exhibits and was met by Florence and David Chew, Choon Siew’s children from his second marriage.

The Chew Museum was originally the home of their grandmother Precious Chew who lived there with her children until they went overseas for studies and settled in the United States.

As they went through the collection of photographs Esther recalled their visit in 1980 when Herbert and his sister Barbara came over for a holiday with their families.

“Choon Siew so loved his children and grandchildren. Between Barbara and Herbert we were twelve of us which made Choon Siew very happy then with all the grandchildren around.

Philip remembered his grandfather Choon Siew would have 2 vehicles to take them around, a large Land Rover and another car.

Esther and family in front of Precious Chew's home, now the Chew Museum. 

'as we entered on the right was the living room with mother of pearl furniture, on the left the room where our great grandparents photos used to hang and where Uncle Ee Kong’s friend taught us karate" ..Paul.

..this was 'the dining room...beyond that was the kitchen where 7th grand aunt chat yee por used to make really good kaya jam over a charcoal fire’ ... Philip.

Paul recalled the house being bigger. ‘As we entered the house on the right was the living room with mother of pearl furniture and on the left was the room that our great grandparents photos used to hang. This was where Uncle Ee Kong’s friend taught karate to all eight of us children’.

‘After the staircase was the dining room and beyond that was the kitchen where 7th grand aunt chat yee por used to make really good kaya jam over a charcoal fire’ added Phillip.

Upstairs there were two rooms, now taken down,  where we slept in bunk beds covered with mosquito nets. Across the hallway was where my grandmother Precious and Aunt Wing Seen stayed.

Basically the house is still the same but in 1980 Ban Hoe Seng business was good as there were a lot of motorcycle stocks at the side of the house.

getting reacquainted

....discovering their roots

One of the main objectives of their visit was to reacquaint Esther's children and grandchildren with their Malaysian roots and the old family home and for the family to take a photograph in front of great grandfather’s road sign, Chew Boon Juan Road, located across from the Chew Museum. 

...our Great Grandfather's road

Left photo: (from left) Philip Chew, Linda, Ariel and Rachel. Right photo (from right) Peter Chew, Kaitlyn, Conrad.

(left photo) John Lauber, Samantha, Eli, Phyllis Lauber and Matthew. (right photo) With Esther Chew are Ava and Schuyler Chew children of Paul and Angea Chew. 

They stayed in Ipoh for three days before moving on to Penang. 

End