01/25/2026
09.28.35 - 01.23.26 Jungok Lee AKA my halmoni
My inspiration, my teacher, life coach, motivation, my heart… halmoni..! words cannot describe how much I will miss you. i can still hear her calling my name. When i was little, my halmoni would call me from the kitchen to come help her make dinner “에스더야, 저녁할시간이다!“ I remember how much i loved spending time in the kitchen with her… I say this all the time but my halmoni not only taught me how to cook, she taught me how to love. Love for food, people, life.. to have a big heart. Food was her ultimate language to express her love for someone. She taught me that.
My halmoni was a force of nature. So beautiful and strong. A matriarch who taught me how to lead with strength, wisdom and kindness. A woman of God.
Halmoni’s specialties included her kimchi, mandu, japchae, LA kalbi, gaejang, ggotkaetang, shikhae, her special thanksgiving turkey, etc etc of course everything she made turned into magic! At her last hours, i was able to tell her how much i missed cooking with her and eating her food. And how much I love her. She told me not to worry and how much she will miss us (한나에스더). Halmoni took her last breath with both of us holding her hand at her side. 91 beautiful years.
할머니, i will miss you so so so so much. But i know you are praying and watching over us like always. I’m happy the suffering is over and now you are at peace with God, halabuji and Dan. 할머니 너무 사랑하고 보고싶어요. 고맙고 감사합니다..
-손녀딸 에스더올림 ❤️❤️🩹
Sharing some of my beloved memories with her.
