Byeong Ok Lee

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Byeong Lee, who left us on March 13, 2025, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family and left this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of love, resilience, and cherished memories.

Born on December 20, 1949, Byeong was a beacon of warmth and kindness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mun Hwa Lee, whom she lost two years ago. Together, they built a family in South Korea before establishing roots in Chicago, Illinois.

Byeong was the cherished mother of three daughters: Helen Kim, Susan Chiappetta, and Jane Lee. Her daughters were her pride and joy, and she instilled in them the values of compassion, strength, and perseverance. She was also grandmother to her precious granddaughter, Imogen Chiappetta, who brought joy to her life.

In addition to her daughters and granddaughter, Byeong is survived by her two caring sons-in-law, Yoonhwan Kim and Tony Chiappetta, whom she welcomed into her family with open arms and a loving heart.

Byeong found great joy in the simple pleasures of life. She was an avid gardener, spending countless hours nurturing her plants and flowers, finding peace and solace in her garden's beauty. Her love for homemade food was legendary, and she delighted in preparing delicious meals for her family, filling their hearts and homes with warmth and love. What a blessing it was to pass on family recipes that honored her late parents, Min Sang Cho and Yeh Suk Lee.

Byeong enjoyed walking with her rescue dogs, Cooper, Taylor, and Toki. She was a social butterfly in the neighborhood, with everyone affectionately calling her “Grandma Lee”.

Her legacy of love, generosity, and strength will continue to inspire all who knew her. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered by her family and friends.

A private family service will be held to honor Byeong’s wish to be laid to rest in the ocean, where she spent her youth, swimming with close friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Dogs Without Borders, an organization that supports rescue, foster, and adoption programs.

May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may her memory be a blessing to all who knew her.