Ok Boon Lee

Ok Boon Lee, aka “Tiny Grandma (Halmoni)”, was born on April 18, 1919 in South Korea and passed away at the age of 100 on April 13, 2020 in San Diego, California. She lived with fierce strength and determination throughout her lifetime raising her young family as a single parent through the Korean War. Lee immigrated to America from South Korea in the 1970s. She was dedicated to her work in the laundry facility and retired from Loma Linda Medical Center. She was an active member of the Loma Linda Korean Seventh Day Adventist Church. At home, she raised chickens and maintained a garden full of organic fruits and vegetables, which she tended to everyday until she could no longer live independently at the age of 95.

In her final years, her loving heart and illuminating smile won out in the end. Her loved ones were always greeted with a smile, hand hold, and a kiss to the back of their hand. She lived a life of faith and service to her Lord Jesus Christ and prayed multiple times on a daily basis for her family and all who cared for her.

Predeceased by her husband, daughter, Chung Nam Cho, and a son. Leaves behind two daughters: Bok Hee Joo (Han Seung Joo), Bok Lai Chun (Hong Jin Chun) Five Grandchildren: Joseph Cho, Esther Cho (Bob Candari) and Michael Cho (Leah Ahn), Bettyann Chun and Vonceil Chun (Scott Yara). Eight Great-Grandchildren: Sophia and Julien Cho, Amelia and Jonah Candari, Mason Cho, and Masahiko, Kai, and Malia Yara.

We wish to acknowledge Linda Cho at Stellar Care and all the wonderful care providers too numerous to name for their warmth, generosity, and loving care of Halmoni in the nursing home. We salute the doctors, especially Dr. Toluwalase Ajayi, and the incredible nursing staff at Scripps Memorial Hospital for their palliative care of Halmoni as she battled COVID-19.