Philomena He Kung Cheng
Philomena He Kung Cheng, 85, of League City, passed away Thursday July 22, 2021, in Webster. Philomena was born March 2, 1936, in Shanghai, China, to Kung Kan Yan and Chin Yau Kuen. Philomena was a devoted mother to her children, wife and restaurateurs with her late husband.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Patrick Siu Keung Cheng. Philomena is survived by her daughter, Patricia Cheng Lynch and husband, Wayne Lynch of League City; her son Patrick Oscar Cheng, Jr. and wife Mary Knight Cheng of League City and one brother, Andrew Kung and his wife Janet of Houston along with many loving cousins, nieces and nephews across Texas, California, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Philomena grew up in Shanghai, Suzhou and Hong Kong where her father owned textile silk factories. From there, she attended National Taiwan University in Taipei as did Patrick and it was on the ship on her trip back home to Hong Kong for summer break she met Patrick, her husband to be. They made plans for Patrick to arrive in Los Angeles first and worked as a waiter to save money so that Philomena could join him. Philomena and Patrick married January 31, 1959 in Las Vegas, Nevada and would have celebrated their 60th anniversary on January 2019. Philomena was happiest as a loving mother with hobbies including crocheting & knitting, folding little origami type animals out of the paper wrappers from the chocolates she loved eating, watching Chinese TV shows, and her most treasured hobby, her children. Philomena alongside Patrick were lifelong restaurateurs. Philomena and Patrick opened their first of three Passage East Chinese restaurants in Houston in 1970 before settling down in Galveston in 1976 with the China Restaurant and later renamed Beijing Garden when they remodeled, adding a lovely garden and koi fish pond with many of the items coming from Taiwan. Philomena and Patrick became United States citizens in the early 1980’s. After about forty years in the restaurant business, Philomena and Patrick retired in League City to be near their children.
Patty and Pat would like to acknowledge our wonderful spouses, Wayne and Mary, but also special thanks to Eva and Terry Blight for their love, compassion and support during this very difficult time.
The family is planning Philomena’s celebration of life on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 12:30 pm at Spring Creek BBQ located at 2710 Gulf Frwy S in League City, TX.
Arrangements are under the direction of the James Crowder Funeral Home, La Marque.
She was a sweet lady and sounds like a devoted wife and mom. A life well-lived and her children are the living examples. Prayers to you and your families from The Cannary family.