Grace Chong Djang

Grace Chong DJang, R.N. earned her golden wings, a beautiful Hawaiian Lei made of orchids, plumeria, jasmine and a surfboard made of the finest Koa wood. Grace was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on April 8, 1927, and the youngest of eight siblings. She was fifteen years old when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The family home overlooked “The Pearl” and she had a first-hand view of the horrors of that tragic day. Shortly, her two oldest brothers joined the US Armed Services and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Grace grew up in a wartime environment and worked in the family vegetable garden (victory gardens) which gave her a lifelong love for plants of all varieties.

Grace graduated from Roosevelt High School (Honolulu, Hawaii). She was voted prom queen by her senior class, and she performed for the high school band as a drum majorette. Following graduation, Grace received an academic scholarship to the Glendale School of Nursing School (in Los Angeles, California) where she received her registered nursing degree and met her first husband, Arthur, who was enrolled in the UCLA school of medicine. Upon receiving his M.D., the couple married in Honolulu and then moved to San Francisco for Arthur’s residency program. Subsequently, the family moved to Minnesota while Arthur pursued his Ph.D. The family lived in various parts of the United States before settling down in Las Cruces, New Mexico in the early 1960’s with their three boys (Philipp, Douglas and Lincoln).

When the marriage dissolved, she stepped up and raised three sons as a single parent. Besides being a superb cook and gardener, she returned to the work force and served at the New Mexico State University’s student health center and later at R.E. Thomason General Hospital in El Paso, Texas. She made sure that her sons were properly educated and all three sons earned advanced degrees in medicine and engineering.

Besides nursing, gardening, and her beloved Dobermans, Grace became involved with New Mexico Senior Olympics both as an athlete (competing in race walk and the talent show – competitive ballroom dancing) and as a sport event organizer. She encouraged other seniors to achieve and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. For her efforts, she received the Dona Ana County Senior Olympics’ Heritage Award for outstanding contributions to growth and success of the organization. Her legacy continues as Dona Ana County Senior Olympics has continued to thrive.

She met her second husband, Fred Frank, LTC USA Retired, who was also involved with New Mexico Senior Olympics. Together, they traveled the world going to Europe, Australia and Asia. As a result, she and her husband experienced multiple cultures, foods and music. When Fred passed away, Grace restarted her life by starting the first stroke club in Las Cruces. She helped numerous friends and neighbors navigate the changes resulting from devastating strokes.

She is survived by her sons and their families as well as numerous grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please honor Grace’s memory with a donation to the American Stroke Association.