Sook Ja Kim (김 숙자, maiden name 손) was born in 부산 (Busan), where her father ran a successful export business called 북성 물산 (North Star Trading). She was the second child and first daughter among five children. At the age of 14, she was sent with her brother to attend high school in Seoul, and then studied at the well-known 이화여자대학교 (Ewha Women's University). After graduating, in 1961 she left Busan to study French abroad on a student visa in the United States, where her future husband Jin Hwan Kim (김 진환, 1935-2016) was studying architecture. Together, they went on to build a life with their sons Junu (준우), and Junse (준서).

She worked hard and saved much of the family income for a home, college educations, and retirement. She cooked every day and always made sure that her family and friends were never hungry. One of the things she was most proud of, she said, was to have dinner on the table for her husband every night for the entirety of their marriage. She also loved to sing and write poetry. She was a member of church choirs for many years, and contributed her poetry to the events of friends and family, including her son's wedding.

Sook Ja had a big heart and cared deeply for others. She built a loving relationship with her daughter-in-law Alicia and found great joy in her grandchildren, Nolan 재현 and Doran 은해, and Junse's partner, Anna. She helped family members establish themselves in the United States, and appreciated the love and comfort she received from her brothers and sisters, and many nieces and nephews. She had friends — both new and old — all over North America, and enjoyed numerous retreats and occasions throughout her life with her many loving Ewha sisters. 

Along with her husband, she was a long-time supporter of the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago 시카고 문화회관, serving on the board in 2019, and was also a benefactor of many other charitable causes that were dear to her heart.

She was also a person of very strong faith. She prayed for her family and friends every day. She appreciated the chance to worship with her fellow congregation members. She read the Bible to comfort her during dialysis, and every night before going to sleep. Her faith and her will to live by God’s word inspired her to keep fighting to stay healthy.

She took amazingly good care of herself, physically and spiritually, despite the illness she suffered, and had the courage and discipline to endure more than 20 years of kidney dialysis.

We will remember her as endlessly energetic, fun and funny, loving and God-fearing. She fought to live for so many years, and in the end, she told her children that she was ready to go home to God.