A LETTER FROM DANIEL:
Saturday March 9, 2002
Dear Mom,

You have shown so much wisdom and discernment in my life and passed on such intellect and leadership. I will love you and miss you more than words can convey. When I was small, if I ever wanted to cry I would just think of you dying. Now, you have told us that you are tired and you want to go on to see Dad and to be with Jesus. We know that this is part of life, that we need to let you go on to eternity.

I reflect on your many acts of service, how when I went to go pick Strawberries, you would get up at 5AM with me a cook me a big Lumberjack breakfast of pancakes, sausage and eggs. And how when I got sick after eating some berries with insecticide, you drove over to pick me up and nurture me back to health. I remember well, how you took me each week to Piano lessons, Clarinet lessons, and Guitar lessons. You always had time for me, and showed your undying love for me.

When I was sick with the German Measles, you took care of me, with the little brass bell to ring if I ever needed anything, to just ring the bell and you would come running.

I thank you for loving Dad so unconditionally, knowing that God had a plan for him, and that you would persevere to see a good work that was started in him, brought to completion. I remember hearing Dad reading the Upper Room each morning and hearing you pray for each of your Children each morning.

I remember when I broke up with my first girlfriend and you were on a trip with Dad to Portland, when you came home, you made it a point to sit and talk with me and let me share my deepest feelings and to comfort me. I remember you telling me on the eve of my election as Student Body Vice President, that I shouldnt be too disappointed if I didnt win the election, but that it was all in Gods hands. I remember after we went to a Nikki Cruz Crusade, you wanted to make sure that I understood that I had to accept Jesus in my Heart and I prayed with you to make a decision.

You always told me that I was very persuasive and charming and that I was a lot like your younger brother. You were very grateful for the time that Dad spent with each of us children, that you helped him to be very involved with everything that we did, much more involved than your father was.

I am so glad that Melissa and Jocelyn were able to share the 10 days with you and Dad in Korea, those are the family memories that will live on in our hearts and minds forever. Jocelyn often talks about the 10th birthday party at TGI Fridays in Seoul.

I can see a lot of your excellence and pursuit of perfection in Jocelyn, she always wants to be the top of the class, gets her homework done very early and really thinks about what matters and what to do with her time. She is very loving and nurturing to her little sister Alaina, and very patient and meticulous.

I remember the previous saddest day of my life when I was in 3rd grade and I made a small ceramic bowl when I was sick for a week. You took the time to drive me to school so that I wouldnt have to carry the bowl on the bus. When I went to go into the school, someone came rushing out the door and knocked it out of my hands. It went crashing to the floor and broke into a million pieces. I ran after you, but you were just driving away. I just stood there and cried.

I remember how you would wait up for me until 2AM, always wanting to sit with me and find out what I was doing and why I was home so late. You said that you couldnt sleep until all your little chickidees were safe in their beds at home. You said that we are all part of you, we came from you and that your heart was always with us where ever we were and that you would always be there for us.

You said when I was in 7th grade that I would be the one who would take care of you when you were old and needed help. You told me that I should go after that job at Corning, that I would do very well there, and after only 9 months I already got a promotion.

I have often thought just how successful you could have been if you had chosen to pursue a career over raising all of us children. I am sure you would have been a director of research and run a large organization. We all thank you for choosing to invest your life in us and that we have been able to show you our appreciation by living good and successful lives.

I treasured the 10 days that I was able to share with you after your release from the convalescent home. We were able to slowly and carefully go through 50 years of memories with Dad and raising all of us children. You showed me the Valentine that Dad sent you the first year of marriage, you showed me the class schedule where you chose the Chemistry class where you met dad. You showed me the calendar that had dinner with Mr. Liu. You worked so hard to go through all the accumulation of things to make it easier for us to say goodbye and to keep the important memories.That time was a gift from God, to have an opportunity to review your life with us.

It amazes me how sapient you are and were. So wise and discerning, able to give us good guidance and encouragement. All of us children are very successful due to your imparting of self-confidence, hard work and tenacity.

Now as we must say goodbye, I know you are going to a better place, to be with Dad to be complete once again. We need to let you go and be happy for you knowing that you will spend eternity in Heaven.

I thank you for making your wishes so very clear to us, that you do not want to be artificially maintained on life support, but that you want to let nature take its course. We will honor your wishes and let you die a peaceful, non-painful death.

Dan

A LETTER FROM DAVID:

Dear Mom,

I want to say how much Ill miss you. I could always count on you to help me when I was in trouble. I could always go to you for advice. You have always been my steady rock when life was shaky. Thanks for sacrificing your career to be a homemaker. You had such great potential to be a teacher or scholar. But you gave it all up to marry Dad and raise a family.

I always knew you would give me a little slack when I made a mistake. Like when I was late at curfew or ran out of money. You always wanted to help me pursue my dreams. Thanks for helping me with my paper route. You were always so good at keeping track of the money. Im sorry we werent as close after I moved to Chicago.

You have always been so dependable in your spiritual life. You would follow God in little ways and faithfully help Dad with his crazy big projects. You always knew how to talk common sense into him. And you were always such a good judge of character. I knew that if you ever set your mind to something it would get done. You and Dad were such a great team that way. Dad had the big ideas and you would work out the details.

You are a great Christian. I remember you always wanted to see love in action, not just talking about it, but doing it. That was what challenged me to really follow God.

Mom I hope you will be with Dad in heaven. I hope you can talk to him and help him with his big dreams. I hope when youre in heaven you can be close to Jesus.

You have always been very careful about your money. I know it has been short sometimes and you have had to borrow. But I know you were always very frugal and careful not to be wasteful.

Mom, you were always a good friend. I saw how you reached out to so many people and deeply were loyal to those people who had helped you. You tried many times to help a few Korean women who needed a friend. I need to help a few more people in my life.

Mom, you were always very practical. Youd figure things out as you went along and not worry too much. I always appreciated that about you. You were willing to compromise and werent so rigid that nothing would get done.

You were always very fair and wanted to help the needy. You would try to help people whenever you could. Although Dad got a lot of the recognition for service to the community, we all know that he never would have been able to do it without you. You were the one who kept him organized. You kept him centered.

We never were rich in money, but we were rich in many family things: adventures, fun and laughter, dreams and accomplishments and a few good friends. We made a lot of really great family memories. Thanks for everything and I love you.

Dave

A LETTER FROM GLORIA:
Friday March 8, 2002

Dearest Mama,

Thank you for the gift of life and for you and Dad raising us. Thank you for giving us values and teaching us care and concern. Thank you for being there with us and for us.

Ill miss you Mama. My heart already has a void in it. A Mama shaped void. It will be hard to fill.

I remember our walk by the strand in Redondo Beach and how you truly enjoyed the sunset. I remember walking in the Seattle Park, I think the arboretum and watching all the cherry blossoms.

I remember playing Korean cards with you and telling you that you cheated because the pictures were difficult to recognize. And you always said no, you didnt cheat.

You had such a good, cheerful attitude in the face of diversity. First with Dad dying, then your broken hip, then your heart attack and congestive heart failure and hospitalizations and nursing homes.

You helped Dad a lot-discussing things with him for his work and charity work. Helping out with the community supper. Making sure we all kept our appointments, especially Dad and his meetings.

I remember you driving all of us kids around, to go to the grocery store or anyplace. We must have been a challenge.

I remember going to the beach with the family. You would always pack the picnic basket and thermos. We had such a good time.

I remember you driving down with me to California. I dont even remember why we were going. But I remember you staying awake and talking to me. We stayed with Angie Knight. How kind of you to come all the way down there with me. Maybe we went to Berkley instead.

You were always so generous with us kids. I remember when there wasnt enough food on the table that you would forego some of your portion.

You always called me your first love.

I love you Mama.

Love,
Gloria

A LETTER FROM PATTY:

Dear Mom,

I asked God for more time, and he said that you were tired, and wanted to go home and see Dad and that he loved you too, and wanted you home. I can see that. I will think of you everyday, first with a stab of pain, and later with a smile. I know you know how much I love you, and will never forget you. You were the best mom ever.

I remember how safe I used to feel walking home from Olympic School in the rain, knowing that you always be there with a smile and a word of welcome. You gave all of us lifelong habits of cheerfulness and the will to think of things positively.

I remember how hard you worked on the outfits you made for me the pink coat for Easter, the blue and gold pantsuit, and later my drill team outfits and cheerleading outfits. The others girls always said mine were the best made, even if theirs had been made by a seamstress who was a professional!

I remember you hosting our progressive dinner in high school what a good sport you were and how hard you worked to make things nice.

I remember going to New York with you and how proud you were that I navigated Daddy from the JFK airport into midtown Manhattan. You were so glad to see your old friends and you had no problem finding your way to Mt. Kisco!

I remember you being at every track meet, any tennis match, and every awards ceremony. You should have gotten an award for perfect attendance. You never seemed to care if I won, but were always so proud anyway. And thanks for all the dry socks and snacks!

I remember your words of wisdom when you met Ken, Certainly, he will let you grow. And how tiny you looked next to him and still do.

Mom, you are an amazing woman. I always admired your ability to love each one of us as individuals and never to choose a favorite. You were so fair, so wise, and so loving. I will miss you everyday, and so will Ken, Conor and Luke.

Love,
Patty