Desiree Ruth Chung West

Desiree (Desi) Ruth Chung West

June 5, 1965 – July 14, 2026

Desiree (Desi) Ruth Chung West passed away on July 14, 2026, at Providence Medical Center in Portland Oregon, due to complications from a recent major surgery. She was 61 years old.

Desi was born to Alvera Ericson Chung and Dong Lo (Don) Chung on June 5, 1965, at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park Illinois. Desi spent her childhood growing up in Chicago and Schaumburg. In 1981, after her parents divorced, she moved with her family to Portland Oregon.

Desi studied music and played the piano. Her mother, who was a music education teacher, encouraged her. Desi was especially fond of classical music and played many different pieces on the piano. Richard Wagner was one of her favorite classical composers, although Desi loved all types of music especially David Bowie.

Desi attended the Pacific Northwest College of Art. She enjoyed creating various forms of art, and drawing with colored pencil.

Desi was very fond of animals, especially cats. Her uncle rescued a kitten from a tree and gave it to her when she was a little girl. This began a lifelong love affair with cats! Desi had many cats over the years. People knew that she was a cat-lover and would abandon their cats on her doorstep knowing that she would care for them.

As a family, we felt her love very much. Every Christmas she would make a Swedish Smorgasbord. On Christmas night she would invite others to her home or bring the feast to her mother's house for a family gathering. Her stepfather, Bob was at the hospital to give loving comfort and support during her final days. He was able to report to the rest of the family and friends on her condition which was greatly appreciated.

Desi was preceded in death by her beloved mother (“mama”) Alvera Ericson McGuirk, her cousin Cindy Ericson Johnson, her uncle Rodger Ericson and aunt Betty Ericson, her uncle Larry Ward, and her loving grandfather the Reverend Alvern Ericson (who baptized Desi at Portage Park Covenant Church in Chicago) and her loving grandmother Ruth Adamson Ericson.

Desi is survived by her brother Anthony (Tony) Chung and his partner Katrina Skipworth and her stepfather Robert McGuirk, all of Portland Oregon; her uncles Albert Ericson and Patrick Travers of Tucson Arizona; her cousin Bev Ericson Silvey and husband David Silvey of North Carolina; cousin Jay Ericson and wife Kate Ericson and family of Texas; her godmother and cousin Diane Waters Kauffman and family of Schaumburg Illinois; cousin Barbara Adamson Chadwick of Chicago Illinois; and many other cousins, family and friends.

Desiree was a loving and kind person whose light shined in many people’s lives. She will be missed by all who she knew, loved and cared for; and in turn who loved and cared for her. In the final years of her life, Desi had several devoted friends who provided countless hours of at-home care. The family expresses our deep appreciation for their loving support. Beset by chronic illnesses many times throughout her adult life, Desi modeled courage and hope to her friends and caretakers.

The family extends great appreciation to the staff of Providence Medical Center who cared for Desi on the medical-surgical floor. She had a favorite physician (all of them), a favorite nurse (all of them) and favorite support staff (all of them). She enthusiastically enjoyed every hospital meal and how it was served. While we all hopefully planned for her return to health, it was not to be. The wonderful Providence Medical Center staff eased her passing to her eternal reward in the arms of God.

A celebration of Desi’s life will be held on Saturday, August 29th at 11:00 a.m. at:

First Covenant Church, 4433 E. Burnside, Portland Oregon 97215.

Here is the link to the First Covenant Church Facebook Page: 

https://www.facebook.com/firstcovpdx/

The church will start the live stream at 10:50-10:55 am

In lieu of flowers, and to honor Desi's love of cats, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Cat Adoption Team, 14175 SW Galbreath Drive, Sherwood, OR 97140, (503) 925-8903, https://giving.catadoptionteam.org/page/support.