Reka Punotai was born in the rural province of Chainat, Thailand on January 20, 1926. She attended and graduated from Siriraj Hospital School of Nursing, married Tim in the 1950s and had two children. A work exchange program would move her and later her family to Chicago in the 1960s. There she worked in various hospital operating rooms until her retirement in the 1980s. After spending 20 years of her retirement in Bangkok, Thailand, she moved to Marengo in 2004 for her grandchildren. She loved to garden and was known for her cooking.
Reka is survived by her daughter Chantima, son Punja (Connie), and four grandchildren: Gemma (Derrick), Kyle, Kaylin, and Kyan. Her husband Tim preceded her in death in 1995.
No service will be held. She will be memorialized in prayer at Wat Dhammaram in Chicago, where she was a devout Theravada Buddhist.