Yang Cha Agnitti

Yang Cha (Lim) Agnitti

Greece: August 15, 2025. Yang Cha is predeceased by her parents, Pange Lim & Cheorye Park. She is survived by her husband, Sabatino Agnitti; children, Tino (Amy) Agnitti, Gianni (Melanie) Agnitti, Joann (Steven) Vazquez; grandchild, Devan Agnitti; brother, Jang-Ho (Young-Ae Kim) Lim; brother-in-law, Gino (Christine) Agnitti; nephew, cousins & dear friends.

Yang Cha's life story will be shared during her visitation at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage Lane (Between 390 & Long Pond Rd.) Wednesday, August 20th 4-7 PM. Her funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday, August 21st, 9:30 AM at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 296 Flower City Park. Immediately following, Yang Cha will be laid to rest in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Remembering Yang Cha~

Yang Cha Agnitti was born on May 19, 1956, in Gwangju, South Korea, to a hardworking family that valued tradition and resilience. She grew up alongside her brother, Lim Jang-Ho. In her early years, education for girls was not strongly emphasized, and by the equivalent of 5th grade, her schooling gave way to learning the responsibilities of home life-cooking, maintaining the household, and working in the fields alongside her father growing rice, fruits, and vegetables. These early experiences shaped her lifelong love for gardening, food, and family.

In 1974, while living in the village of Tong Du Chong, Yang Cha met Sabatino ("Sam") Agnitti, a U.S. Army soldier stationed in South Korea. Their connection was immediate, and on January 17, 1975, they were married at the U.S. Consulate in Seoul. This began a marriage that would last 50 years, built on devotion, resilience, and shared love for their family.

Together, Yang Cha and Sam welcomed three children: Sabatino Jr. (Tino), born April 16, 1977, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Giovanni (Gianni), born April 28, 1980, at Highland Hospital in Rochester, New York, Giovanna (Joann), born June 25, 1984, at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York.

As a mother, Yang Cha devoted herself wholeheartedly to her children. Their well-being, safety, education, and kindness were always her first priority. She passed on to them the values of hard work, family unity, respect for culture, and compassion for others. She also taught them practical skills: how to garden, how to cook Korean food, and the importance of honoring their Korean heritage.

Yang Cha was creative and resourceful. In the early 1980s, she opened her own tailoring and alteration business, Yang's Tailoring, on Emerson Street in Rochester. She poured her heart into her work, designing, sewing, and altering clothing with exceptional skill.

Unfortunately, due to illness, she had to close the business in 1985. Even so, she remained proud of this accomplishment. Throughout her life, she also worked in various roles at J.C. Penney's, Jack Green's Men's Shop, S & K Men's Wear, The Plum House Restaurant, and Wegmans.

Faith was also important to Yang Cha. For many years, she was a devoted member of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Greece. After its closing, she attended Holy Cross Church and Sacred Heart Cathedral, where she continued to worship and build community.

Her greatest joy, however, was found at home and in her garden. She transformed her family's backyard into a flourishing vegetable and flower garden, complete with stones, a walkway, and tiled areas she designed herself. She loved visiting fruit farms to pick blueberries, peaches, and apples, or stopping at roadside stands for fresh corn. These simple pleasures brought her immense happiness.

Cooking was another passion. Yang Cha was an outstanding cook and baker, preparing delicious Korean dishes for her family during gatherings. She was equally skilled in baking pies, cakes, and cookies, which made holidays and celebrations especially memorable.

She loved animals, especially cats. Her first cat, Frankie, was named after singer Frankie Valli, a playful nod to her husband's favorite musician. Later, she adopted two cats, Hopper and Nabi-the latter named for the Korean word for butterfly, which his fur markings resembled.

When she wasn't working or caring for her family, Yang Cha enjoyed sewing, playing tennis when healthy, and spending time with friends. She formed deep and lasting friendships, including with Marina, with whom she worked at a bakery called Sweet Memories. They created cakes, cookies, and candies for all occasions. Marina's passing deeply affected her, but Yang Cha found comfort in the memories they shared. One of her first American friends was Donna, who was then married to Vinnie. Donna, Vinnie, Sam, and Yang Cha would all often spend time together playing games, going out to eat, and watching drive-in movies. She also cherished her Korean friends Un-Hi, Sugi, Manhui, Yong, and Soonhui, with whom she often gathered for meals and karaoke.

Her interests reflected her warm, spirited personality. She loved Korean music but also admired performers like Tina Turner and Tom Jones. She enjoyed shows such as Dallas, Dynasty, The Carol Burnett Show, and Family Feud. She also had a wonderful sense of humor, delighting in the comedy of Rodney Dangerfield, Cheech and Chong, Richard Pryor, and Gene Wilder.

Though her life was marked by health challenges, Yang Cha faced them with strength and determination. Her motto, "God has a purpose and everything is up to God," guided her through difficulties and inspired those around her.

Those who knew her best describe her as loving, kind, generous, happy, and smart. She was free-spirited, strong-willed, feisty, and deeply devoted to her family. She disliked cruelty and rudeness, especially when directed at children or animals, and lived by a quiet code of compassion and respect.

Yang Cha's legacy lives on through her husband, children, and the many lives she touched with her warmth, strength, and creativity. For her husband Sam, their love was profound and enduring-like Romeo and Juliet, a bond meant to last beyond this lifetime.