Heesun Kim Ham, age 80, passed away peacefully on August 29th in Duluth, GA. She was formerly a long-time resident of New Cumberland, PA. She was born in Korea on February 28, 1945 in Hwangjoo (currently North Korea) to parents Chang Duk Kim and Hwa Ryo Bihn. Her family escaped to South Korea and settled in Seoul in 1948.
In 1967, she graduated with distinguished honors from Soongsil University in Seoul with a major in English. Upon graduation, she taught English until she moved to the United States to further her education in 1969. She married Kum Shik Ham in New York in 1969.
She was known for her devotion to help those in need, her boundless energy, unwavering strength and warm spirit. She lived a life full of helping others, particularly newly arrived Korean immigrants in South Central Pennsylvania. She helped their children’s education just as if they were her own. The school guidance counselors even asked her, “How many children do you have?” She also helped new immigrants toward financial success. She frequently guaranteed business loans from local banks for those who needed bank credit. She will be deeply missed.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Kum Shik Ham; her daughter Dr. Jee-Young N. Ham and son-in-law Dr. Christopher J. Petit; her son, attorney Paul S. Ham and daughter-in-law, Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Catherine H. Ham; and five grandchildren: Felix Ham (age 17), Benjamin Petit (15), Axel Ham (14), Oliver Petit (13), and Gemma Ham (12).
A memorial service will be held on September 19th at 11:00 am at the Harrisburg Korean Presbyterian Church, 1127 Slate Hill Road, Camp Hill, PA, 17011, with a time for family and friends to gather from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Burial will follow in Rolling Green Cemetery, 1811 Carlisle Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Emory University Integrated Memory Care (https://together.emory.edu/give/checkout?appeal=W0SON)
