Anne Ja-Kyung Pak

Anne J. Pak went to God on October 15, 2026. She was born Kim Ja Kyung in Seoul, Korea on July 22, 1970. She leaves behind her loving husband, Peter H. Pak, and their two sons, Peter M. And Christopher M. Pak. She is survived by her parents, Kim Kyung Ja and Kim Byung An, her brother, Kim Ja Kwang, his wife Cho Joo Eun, and their children Kim Dae Yeon and Kim Seo Yeon, all in Seoul, Korea. She also leaves her mother-in-law, Marianne Pak, sisters-in-law, Mary Pak (Lonnie Lingard and their daughter, Lexi), Theresa Pak (Dan Hilburn), and brother-in-law, Paul Pak.

Anne was educated at Ewha Women’s College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught preschool class of 4-year-olds for a year before meeting and marrying Peter, all in 4 months’ time. After the wedding she made a brave move from South Korea to the US. Soon thereafter, she became a full-time mom and homemaker.

Besides running the household, managing the children and their activities, and being the bedrock of support for Peter, Anne somehow found the time to teach Korean at Korean Institute of Southern California’s Los Angeles School, lead a bible study group at University Presbyterian Church, learn Art History, study Japanese, formally learn to paint, and make ceramic art at Santa Monica College, study graduate level Linguistics at CSUN, earn a realtor’s license, volunteer at Getty Center and Villa, make paintings in the Korean folk style, and earn a master’s degree in Korean Linguistics at Kyunghee Cyber University, where classes often began at 2AM Pacific Time. She was active in the Boy Scout Troop 2 when the boys were in the troop. As if those were not enough, she was an avid gardener who cultivated beautiful plants in the yard, whose landscape she designed.

She was extremely proud of the Eagle Scout sons, who are now establishing themselves in their chosen fields. After the boys flew the nest, she and Peter were fortunate to be able to travel across the world to experience different cultures and savor local cuisines in Europe, China, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.

Anne was generously giving with her time and talent. Her premature departure caused by leukemia will leave a lasting void in many people she encountered in her life.

Instead of flowers, please make a donation to City of Hope in Anne’s memory.

Visitation will be held at Gates, Kingsley & Gates Smith Salsbury Funeral Directors, 4220 South Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230, US, on October 19, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Funeral Mass to be held at St. Monica Catholic Church 725 California Ave., Santa Monica CA 90403 on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 10:30am