Sung Chapae Bloom

Sung Chapae Bloom, 71, of Radcliff, KY passed away Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at the University of Louisville Hospital.

Sung Bloom was born in Cholla-namdo, South Korea to In-Kyu and Jong-Ye (née Han) Bae in 1954 as the second of five children. Her father worked on the local U.S. Army base, while her mother was a hardworking homemaker.

Growing up so close to a U.S. Army base, Sung soon became familiar with glimpses of what life outside of post-war Korea could be, of different cultures and peoples. Naturally bold, curious, and strong willed, she sought a life of adventure -- to travel and see the world -- so much so that when faced with a traditional matchmaker match, she fled her home in search of her own path and in choosing her own match. In her mid-20s, this path led her to meet (and eventually marry) a U.S. Army soldier.

By the late 1970s, Sung found herself in the United States where she quickly immersed herself in learning English, while also developing nourishing friendships with fellow military wives. One such friendship introduced her to a relationship with Jesus Christ and the Christian faith which would provide a solid foundation of strength, fellowship, and support that would help carry Sung through the various difficult moments she would face in the years to come.

In 1982 while first stationed in Germany, Sung gave birth prematurely to identical twin girls (Elizabeth Ann and Sadora Ann). Both mother and children required extensive time in the hospital, though sadly, after 40 days in NICU only Sadora survived. During a second tour of Germany in 1985, Sung gave birth to her third daughter, Lisa Christina. While raising her two girls and often working part-time, Sung also warmly welcomed her husband's older children (Tina Louise Akers née Bloom, Todd Michael Bloom, and Lloyd Martin Bloom) into her home as her own throughout the years wherever they were stationed.

After being stationed at Fort Knox, KY in the early 1990s, her husband decided to take early retirement. Radcliff, Kentucky would become Sung's lifelong place of residence, a place where she found stability, security, and a network of support and friendship through the various positions she held in the food service industry, most especially at Southern Foodservice Management where she worked for nearly twenty years as a much-loved cook at Fort Knox and was lovingly known as "Sung-shine".

Sung was no stranger to hardship. She was married for nearly 25 years, enduring much struggle. Sung worked exceptionally hard to provide for her childrens' needs, always striving to work towards a brighter, stronger future; however, such hardship did have a rough impact on her faith.

In 2021, Sung was diagnosed with primary stage 2 breast cancer (successfully treated), then primary stage 3 endometrial cancer in 2022 (with stage 4 recurrence in 2024). She underwent extensive treatment for both, which included numerous surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy at the Baptist Health Cancer Center in Elizabethtown, and the TILs (Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes) clinical trial through the Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville Hospital. Each step of the way, Sung faced this battle with a fighting spirit, unwavering perseverance, and a beautiful childlike acceptance of whatever came her way and was asked of her. She wanted to do all she could do to survive and be there for her children, grandchildren, and friends whom she knew loved her deeply.

The last six weeks of her life was spent at UofL hospital with a brief interlude at the Frazier Rehabilitation Center. While there, it was constantly remarked by physicians, nurses, and therapists alike that Sung had incredible strength, not only of mind and body, but of character and will. She brought great joy and hope to all whom she encountered, easily making those around her feel warm, welcomed, loved, appreciated, and cared for. She would always ask those who cared for her how they were doing, how their day was going, expressing genuine concern for the person in front of her. Though she struggled with feeling like a burden upon others, she never failed to convey her unrelenting gratitude for the care she received.

While in the hospital, perhaps when faced with her own mortality and eternity before her, she was able to return to her Christian faith. She was graciously received into the Roman Catholic Church on November 2nd, taking St. Teresa of Kolkata as her patroness -- an apt choice of the Saint who said, "Be happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more."

In life, Sung delighted in her children, grandchildren (Jennifer Shotwell née Akers, Paul Akers III, Brittany Akers, Dakota Bloom, John Bloom, Brianna Willcut, Jayden Bloom, Kyler Bloom, and Dillan Fleming), great-grandchildren (Alexis, Briley, Lainey, Cohen, Colten, Jaxson, Kamari, Raya, Paul IV, and Delilah). She also found immense pleasure in gardening, rehabilitating friends' plants, shopping, watching historical K-dramas, listening to birdsong and windchimes from her front porch, and spending time with family and friends, especially Mr. Sammie West and Mrs. Lisa Watkins.

She was preceded in death by her parents In-Kyu and Jong Ye, her sister Jong Ja, her brother Byong Jung, and her daughter Elizabeth Ann.

Sung is survived by her children Tina Akers (née Bloom), Todd Bloom, Marty Bloom, Sadora Ann Bloom (Sr. Mary Catherine Bloom, O.P.) and Lisa Willcut (née Bloom), as well as her 9 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Monday, December 8, 2025 at Chism Family Funeral Home and from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM, Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at St. Christopher Parish, Radcliff, KY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Ms. Bloom at 11:00 AM,Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at St. Christopher Parish, Radcliff, KY. Burial will follow at the North Hardin Memorial Gardens, Radcliff, KY.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Shirley's Way (https://www.shirleysway.org) -- this organization has been so incredibly generous over the last few years in helping Sung through financial hardship when she was no longer able to work full-time.