MiRyung Choi Ahn

MiRyung Choi Ahn, 74, died Nov. 8, 2016 in Midland. MiRyung was born July 7, 1942 in Daegu, Korea as the second of seven children of Jae Hyung Choi and Young Choo Kim.

After graduating from high school, she obtained a B.S. from Kyungbook National University in Daegu. She then immigrated to the U.S. and attended Columbia University in New York City, where she obtained a M.S. in education and nutrition in 1968, before moving to Baltimore to work as a dietician. That same year, MiRyung was married to Myong-ku Ahn in Chapel Hill, N.C. and later accompanied him to Los Angeles where he completed a post-doctoral fellowship at UCLA. In 1970, the couple moved to Terre Haute, Ind. and gave birth to their only child, Dongchan. After working briefly as a dietician and instructor in Terre Haute, she chose to focus on her passion for being a supportive wife, mother and friend to many, and remained in that capacity throughout their happy 34 years in Terre Haute. After Myong's retirement from Indiana State University, they moved in 2004 to Midland, where they enjoyed time with their grandchildren, yard work and traveling.

MiRyung is fondly remembered by her family and friends as an effervescent, giving and utterly selfless woman of faith who had an infectious zest for life and an abiding care for people. She was a woman of firm principles who was very discerning yet kind to everyone. She always spoke positively and chose to focus on the good in others. A wonderful cook, she loved to host friends for long dinner visits. In recent years, her gregarious nature and physical strength was tested by the often lonely task of being primary caregiver to Myong as he became increasingly incapacitated by Alzheimer's disease. However, she showed remarkable strength in caring for him in their home until late August when her own health began to fail. Their home was frequently graced by the sound of their mutual laughter that reflected the joy of serving God together. Even after being diagnosed with liver cancer in early September, and after Myong passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 15, she accepted this with remarkable grace and continued to think first of others.

MiRyung is survived by her son, Dongchan (Debra) Ahn of Midland; grandchildren, Abigail and Jacob Ahn; sisters, Ilsun (Woongbum) Lee of Mystic, Conn., Pilju (Richard) Templeton of Annapolis, Md., Chong Eun (Young R.) Park of Springfield, Ohio and Heyong (Hongjun) Kim of Fresno, Calif; brothers, Wonju Choi of Singapore and Hyungju Choi of Seoul, South Korea; and many special nieces, nephews and in-laws. She was preceded in death by her husband, Myong-ku Ahn; and her parents.

A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 at Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home in Midland, with visitation hours from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17 and Friday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. until time of service. Mr. Greg Harger and Ms. Jean Bergquist will officiate the service. With deep appreciation, the family wishes not to receive memorials. The family would like to thank the dedicated nurses and physicians in the third floor IC Unit at Midland's MidMichigan Medical Center for their skilled efforts and genuine care.