Helen Chun Dean

Helen (Chun) Dean was born April 18, 1928, in Honolulu Hawaii to Hing Tong Chun and Hoon Jun Lau. She died on March 17, 2023, at the age of 94 in Corvallis, Oregon. She passed peacefully at home surrounded and supported by her loving children and family. Helen attended elementary and junior high in Honolulu, graduating from Hawaiian Mission Academy High School in 1946. In 1941, when Pearl Harbor was bombed, Helen was at a tender age of 13. It was at this time she knew she wanted to become a nurse and to help people. She then crossed the Pacific Ocean by ship to attend Pacific Union College for her pre-nursing in 1946/1947. She attended Paradise Valley School of Nursing in National City, California beginning in 1947 and graduated in 1950. Helen passed her Board of Nurse Examiners in January, 1951 becoming a Registered Nurse. After graduating with her nursing degree, Helen returned to Honolulu to begin her nursing career at Queen’s Hospital. Rose was Helen’s good friend and Jim Horn was Jim Dean’s good friend. As Rose and Jim H talked, they thought Helen and Jim Dean would be a good match. (Both Jims were Navy Airmen.) They asked them to double date and from there Helen and Jim’s romance began. In 1952, Jim and Helen were married in Honolulu. In 1953 Jim was transferred to San Diego and Helen worked for Paradise Valley Hospital. When Jim was discharged from the Navy they then traveled to Vancouver, Washington to be close to Jim’s family. Helen continued her work as an RN working at several hospitals in Vancouver and in Portland Oregon. In 1968 they moved to Corvallis, Oregon. Helen began her 21 years with Good Samaritan Hospital working as an operating nurse, an operating room coordinator, and then retiring as the supervisor of the Central Services Department in 1990. There were many hobbies and interests that Helen enjoyed. Her main interest, however, was family. She also enjoyed cooking (especially the large luau’s that she would occasionally put on for the church), weekly ceramic classes, camping (as long as it was in a trailer), tending to her house plants, reading, and her church callings and activities. Helen was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She will be missed by many, as she was loved by all who knew and met her. Her kindness shined brightly. We know of her faith in God and that she is in Heaven with her beloved husband James Donald Dean, father, mother, brothers (Henry and Herbert Chun) as well as her in-laws (whom she dearly loved). What a joyous occasion in Heaven it is. On earth we are celebrating that she is reunited with those whom she loved. Helen was devoted to her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed attending the many activities in which her family was involved. She is survived by her sister-in-law Patricia Dinsmore (Jerry), children Karen (Darrell) Selander, Don (Stella) Dean, Rhonda (Dana) Williams, and Rodney (Deborah) Dean. Adored Grandma of Ryan (Raychel), Cory (Christina), Michael (Tory), Parker (Taylee), Kylie, Eliana, and Landon; and Great Grandma to James, Chance, Marcus, Isaac, Lainey, and Hayes. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews who have many fond and loving memories of her. A viewing will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (4141 NW Harrison Blvd, Corvallis, OR 97330) on April 10, 2023, at 10:00 am (PDT) with the memorial service following at 11:00 am (PDT). In honor of Helen, HAWAIIAN ATTIRE IS WELCOMED. For those who can’t attend the service in-person: Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/92856945039 Or One tap mobile : US: +16694449171,,92856945039# or +16699006833,,92856945039# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 444 9171 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 719 359 4580 or +1 253 205 0468 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 305 224 1968 or +1 309 205 3325 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 360 209 5623 or +1 386 347 5053 or +1 507 473 4847 or +1 564 217 2000 or +1 646 931 3860 or +1 689 278 1000 Webinar ID: 928 5694 5039 Condolences may be sent to DeMoss-Durdan Funeral Home in Corvallis Oregon. In place of flowers, please consider a donation to The Alzheimer’s Association: https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=51079&51079.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=giving_google&s_subsrc=giving_google&gclid=CjwKCAjw_YShBhAiEiwAMomsEFiZauoTaK46MZThes9_pI5ucO4uM00SVP02j0gJU8bIUOZU1ve9uBoC1ZUQAvD_BwE.

Helen Chun Dean

April 14, 1928 - March 17, 2023