Jennifer Huan Chen Bohlinger

Jennifer Huan Chen Bohlinger, beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend, passed away on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the age of 82. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Arthur V. Bohlinger, of Severn, MD; son Vincent M. Bohlinger (Todd) of Warwick, RI; daughter Theresa T. Bohlinger (Mark) of Millersville, MD; her sister Mimie M.C. Peele of College Park, MD; five brothers in Taiwan (Chen Wei Chih, Chen Wei Li, Chen Wei Kuang, Chen Wei Chiang, and Fang Na Rae); as well as many nieces and nephews in Taiwan and the U.S.

Jennifer was born in Xi’an, China, on November 8, 1942 (Lunar Calendar). With her family, she immigrated to Taiwan to flee the communists in 1949. She graduated from Tunghai University in Taichung with a B.A. in Sociology in 1965. She remained life-long friends with her college classmates and joined them on class reunion trips all around the world.

Jennifer worked at the Standard Contact Lens Company in Taipei before beginning a career with Chase Manhattan Bank, where she first met Arthur in 1972 when he visited her branch on Nanjing East Road. Art came up with all sorts of excuses to go back to the bank to talk to Jennifer. Several dates turned into a wonderful relationship and they were married at Taipei City Hall on October 29, 1974. After living several years in Frankfurt, West Germany—where she became fluent in German—they settled in Severn, MD in 1984.

After a brief stint with the U.S. Postal Service, Jennifer worked many years as a computer programmer for the IRS. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Odenton, where she sang in the choir, served as a cantor, and joined the kitchen crew in assisting with meal preparations for social events and funerals. An advocate for Chinese culture, she taught kindergarten at Mei Hua and Deh Ming Chinese Schools on Sunday afternoons and helped organize events in the D.C. area for Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month. After retirement, she volunteered at the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center in Gaithersburg. Even after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2009, Jennifer remained active, continuing to take courses and staying engaged with her community.

Jennifer enjoyed puzzles, sudoku, sewing, drawing, painting, and practicing origami. She also took pleasure in traveling, singing, dancing, gardening, and bonsai—activities that brought her joy and allowed her to express her creativity.

A viewing will be held at Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A. on Thursday, November 21, 2024, from 2:00–4:00 pm and 7:00–9:00 pm. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s in Odenton on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 10:30 am, followed by a private family burial. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 502 Washington Avenue, Suite 300, Towson MD 21204.

Jennifer will be remembered for her commitment to family and community and her love of ice cream and cats.

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