Rowena was born in Hong Kong in 1951 to Yih-Kuen Chen and Nan-Fan Chu. She grew up in both Hong Kong and Taiwan. Her formative childhood years were spent in Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan. As the youngest girl in a large family, she soaked up the love of three older sisters (Julie, Emily, Kathy), an older brother (Lincoln), aunts, uncles, and close cousins who were also like siblings to her (Chen Li Yuan, Wang Lan Zhou, Wang Mei Zhou, Wang Jian Zhou, Wang Rong Zhou, Wang Xiong Zhou). She returned to Hong Kong for high school and then went back to Taiwan for undergraduate studies where she was one of the few women majoring in civil engineering.

In the 1970s, Rowena moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies at the University of Missouri in St. Louis. In 1980, she married Roy Geng in Davis, California and together they raised two children. She was the loving mother to Diane and David and mother-in-law to JP and Erin. She has three grandchildren: Ashlyn (6), Brielle (3), and Kian (8 months). She was a devoted, patient, and delightful mother and grandmother whose lovely, calm, brave spirit was a light and role model to all of her family.

Rowena spent over a decade leading summer volunteer teams to China to teach English and share about her faith. She touched countless lives, both young and old, students, teachers, school administrators, and church members. Though the team members and sites varied from year to year, Rowena’s administrative and leadership skills kept the programs together. She deftly navigated the challenging schedules, unexpected changes to travel plans, and international communications. God also gave her the ability to speak in front of large crowds, teachers, principals, judges, and officials. 

Rowena also returned to Taiwan many times to do volunteer work. She spent the last two years of her life serving as a full-time volunteer at the Heart Cultivation Garden Retreat Center in Hualien County that helped people leaving prison to rebuild their lives. She was an administrator, head chef, and dorm mother. Her love for the Lord and people of all ages and status was evident. In one of her prayer letters, she wrote: “Given the coronavirus crisis, I am not able to travel but the Heart Cultivation Garden where I work is safe so far. We are surrounded by a lush forest with murmuring streams on a hillside and fresh air. Praise God that I can serve here freely. God is good!”

Rowena began experiencing abdominal pain and low appetite in May 2021. Over the summer, she was diagnosed with advanced inoperable pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer has no symptoms in the early stages and is usually discovered in the later stages, as it was in Rowena's case. She underwent an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy but experienced serious adverse side effects. After a very difficult period following the treatment which included a hospital admission, she made the decision to begin hospice at home. The family wishes to thank Yolo Hospice for their loving care at home during the last month of Rowena's life.

Throughout September and October, Rowena experienced multiple worrying declines as well as amazing rallies. There were precious gifts of days and moments in which she was able to interact with grandchildren, family, and friends from all over the world. Her children, siblings, nieces, and nephews flew in from Shanghai, Canada, Taiwan, and the East Coast. Her sisters Emily and Kathy came to stay with her for weeks and brought her a huge boost of energy!  

Through every second of this ordeal, she never complained about a thing, whether large or small. She continuously exhibited a humble, gracious, and thankful heart in all circumstances. Despite the suffering and difficulties, only loving kindness crosses her lips and she constantly showed consideration for others instead of herself. She said multiple times that she was at peace. She drew immense strength and comfort from her Lord and from the prayers and support of the many beloved friends and family members with whom she has shared so many meaningful experiences and relationships. She truly lived out her faith in the face of all challenges and she was taken in the end without pain or anxiety, surrounded by family, under God's gentle touch.