Susan Cho Kim

Susan Cho Kim, aged 84, passed away on February 27, 2026, in Los Angeles, CA. Born in Hwang Hae Province, Korea on January 3, 1942, Susan dedicated her life to caring for others as a devoted family member, a devout Catholic, a community builder, and an operating room nurse.

Forever shaped by the joys of a large family and the many losses of the Korean War, Susan immigrated to the United States (and specifically Chicago) as a young nursing student, eager to learn and to serve others. She soon began what blossomed into a five-decade career in nursing, built a family, founded a church so fellow Korean immigrants could find community in and beyond their faith, and opened her home to siblings and in-laws all in search of new beginnings in this country.

In her later years, Susan exchanged her scrubs for a set of golf clubs, enjoying (and being awfully competitive at) golf with a tight-knit group of friends who played together, occasionally traveled together, and often shared meals together. In her final year (after 60+ years in the Chicago area, many of which were in Glenview), she moved to Los Angeles to be closer to her two children and their families, to have more support for her healthcare, and to enjoy the warmth of the sun on her face.

She is survived by a loving family: son Michael Kim; daughter-in-law Megan Long Kim; grandchildren Chloe, Conrad, and Owen Kim; daughter Maria Kim; son-in-law Mark Loranger; brother Bongsup Cho; sisters Sophia Griffin, Kunja Ko, Sookja Cho, and Sookhee Kim; and numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents Jonghee Cho and Sungye Im, who believed in building infinitely better futures for their children, her former husband Paul Kim, her sister Bonghwa Cho, and her brothers Bonggun Cho and Bongsoo Cho, the latter of whom we lost during the Korean War.

Susan was a faithful member of and eucharistic minister for Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where services will be held at 1775 Grove St, Glenview, IL, on Saturday, March 21, at 11:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Susan can be made to KAN-WIN (Korean-American Women in Need), accessible at https://www.kanwin.org/, an organization that supports women and children affected by domestic violence, where Susan had hoped to volunteer one day.