Obituaries

In Memory of
JOHN A. CHEW
April 24, 1932 - July 22, 2016

Visitation:
Thursday, July 28, 2016 from 6-8pm
Boyd Panciera Family Funeral Care, University Drive Chapel, Hollywood, Florida

Service:
Friday, July 29, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Hollywood, Florida

Interment:
Our Lady Queen of Heaven in Ft. Lauderdale

John A. Chew
Embalmer And Funeral Director

John A. Chew, cherished husband, father, grandfather and great­grandfather, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, July 22, 2016, at the age of 84. He was born in Somers Point, New Jersey, to the late John A. Chew and Willa M. (Crescenzo) Chew.

John began his career as an Apprentice Portrait Photographer. In September of 1950, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was assigned to a Medical Unit. After his discharge in October 1957, John continued his career and organized the Department of Medical Photography at St. Peters General Hospital where he was Chief Medical Photographer. While working full­time at the hospital John attended the American Academy of Funeral Service in New York City; passing the National Examination and graduated in December of 1959.

On January 4, 1960, John relocated to Florida as an embalmer apprentice at Harry B. Wadlington Funeral Home in Hollywood, Florida and became a licensed embalmer on October 16, 1963. John then took a position at the Shannon Funeral Home in Bradenton, Florida, where he completed his final year of apprenticeship as Licensed Funeral Director. In 1965, John assumed the position of the manager at Peden Funeral Home in South Miami he later took a position at Riverside Memorial Chapel. In 1967, he joined Bud Colton, a California Funeral Service Educator and Administrator, to develop the technical portion of the Funeral Service Program at Miami Dade Community College. Several years later, John developed the Mortuary Science Department at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.

John became interested in Egyptian Mummification and studied the ancient process of preservation and embalming extensively. He received his Doctorate degree from Stasford University, becoming a professor of Mortuary Science. His later years were spent traveling extensively conducting seminars around the world on Funeral Services.

He loved to spend time with his family; and will be missed but will remain in their hearts forever. Survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Dorothy M. Chew; children, Dorothy Chew, John (Kim) Chew and Carolyn (Wayne) Phair; 4 grandchildren, and 6 great­grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2016, from 6­-8 p.m. at Boyd­-Panciera Family Funeral Care, University Drive Chapel with Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be said on Friday, July 29, 10:00 a.m. at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Our Lady Queen of Heaven in Ft. Lauderdale.