Chanly Jong
Chanly Jong, a longtime resident of Swarthmore, died of complications of hypothyroidism at home on September 1. She was 64.
Chanly was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 1956, the seventh of nine children. Coming of age as the Khmer Rouge was taking power, she survived the Cambodian genocide of 1975-79. Her husband, a math teacher, who had the background in education despised by the Khmer Rouge, did not survive. After the Khmer Rouge were overthrown in 1979, she lived with her parents in Battambang and supported their business, while caring, as a widow, for her young son, Hokly.
In 1984, seeking to leave Cambodia for a life with more opportunity, Chanly fled with her son to Thailand, enduring a harrowing journey walking through minefields. The two of them eventually arrived at Khao-I-Dang Holding Center, a large refugee camp on the Thai-Cambodian border. After securing their legal status and housing, Chanly found part-time work as a hairdresser while she awaited resettlement. By early 1988, she and Hokly had been selected by the United Nations to go to the United States. They arrived in Swarthmore in November, 1988, and were placed in the Refugee House at 409 College Ave., alongside other refugee families from various countries. She soon found employment at Swarthmore College’s Sharples Dining Hall, where she continued working until 2008. During her time there, she was known as a diligent employee who took pride in the work with which she supported her family.
While Chanly was living at the Refugee House, she was introduced to the man who would later become her husband of nearly 30 years, Leslie Keighton. Leslie, who lived next door, at 311 Cedar Lane, was a fixture at the Refugee House, and would help the residents with learning English. In 1992, Chanly and Leslie had a son, George.
Alongside Leslie, Chanly loved spending time in their garden. No stranger to hard work, she would often stay outside late into the evening, and would accomplish much using only basic hand tools — sometimes taking down and cutting up sizable trees. She cultivated a number of vegetables and herbs which she would use in her cooking. She also enjoyed sewing, and found satisfaction in bringing new life to old clothing.
Chanly always thought of others before herself, and will be remembered for her strong devotion to her family. While not well educated herself, she worked hard to put her children through school. Her love was perhaps most evidently seen in the kitchen. Her daily packed lunches were always well-balanced, with nutrition and health her first priority. In addition to preparing favorite staples, she was a frequent baker, and enjoyed experimenting with different pancake and bread recipes. Family trips to the grocery store were a highlight of the week. The fall season, when she would stock up on cranberries and prepare fresh cranberry juice, is remembered with particular fondness. Chanly also enjoyed watching cooking shows on PBS, and took meticulous notes so she could incorporate ideas into her own cooking.
Chanly now rests in eternal peace with her husband, Leslie, who predeceased her by just four weeks. She is survived by her sons, Hokly Pith and George Keighton, and several siblings, as well as numerous other relatives overseas. A memorial service for both Chanly and Leslie will be announced at a later date. George may be reached at 484-326-8519. Memorial contributions may be made to the International Rescue Committee.
