Michaeline Peiping (Fu) Chen

Michaeline Peiping Chen (née Fu), aged 90, of Needham, MA, peacefully passed away on September 16, 2023. She was born August 2, 1933, in Beijing, China; she grew up in Nanjing.  Her family fled to Taipei, Taiwan during the Japanese occupation of China. She emigrated to the United States with her sister Jacqueline in 1948 to attend College.

Michaeline's life was marked by her dedication to her family and her work as a research chemist. After completing her BA at Clark College in Dubuque, IA, she met her husband, Joseph, and they married in 1956. While raising 6 children she earned a Master's in Chemistry from Boston College. She volunteered for 25 years with the Northeast Section of the American Chemical Society, holding several committee positions, and enjoyed traveling to the national meetings each year.

She was a chemist with Miles Laboratories, Liberty Mutual, Commercial Union, and Shipley Co., as well as The United States Army Materials Technology Labs (at both the Watertown Arsenal and Aberdeen Proving Grounds), and at Wellesley College. During her career she was a co-author on several publications on Antitubercular drug design and on the use of Yttrium compounds as conductive material 

She was a singer in her youth and passed on her love for music to her children. She enjoyed nothing more than going to a nice meal at Legal Seafood with her children or grandchildren, and having the family over for holiday dinners.  She started the tradition of a vacation week on CapeCod in the Summer where we have created many wonderful memories. 

Along with her husband and sister, she leaves her children: Mark, David, Thomas, (Lynne), Carolyn, Philip (Deb); her niece Natalie (Rich); her grandchildren Caitlin (Mike), Nicholas (Alex), Paul, Jordan (Yerlan), Benjamin, Samuel, Rachael, Marah, Hannah, and Joseph; her grand nephew  Alex; her great-grandsons Jack, Lucas, and Ruslan

She was pre-deceased by her brother Andrew and her daughter Pamela. 

Visiting Hours will be held in the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Ave, Needham, on Thursday, September 21, from 4-7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Friday, Sept 22, in St. Joseph Church, 1360 Highland Ave, Needham. Interment at Highland Cemetery, Centre St., Dover.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Chemical Society:  https://www.acs.org/donate.html, or to the Needham History Center and Museum, 1147 Central Avenue, Needham, MA 02492, or online at https://needhamhistory.org/support/donate/

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