Hung O Lim Ho

Hung Ok was born on March 2, 1931, in Kaesung, Korea. She was the only child of Soo Bock Hong & Han Kyu Lim. She graduated from Holston Girls High School in Kaesung, North Korea. In 1949, when she was 18 years old, she left home to attend Severance School of Nursing in Seoul, which would later be Yonsei University College of Nursing. The Korean War broke out a year later, and communication was cut off from her parents, who lived North of the DMZ (now North Korea). Sadly, she never re-connected with her parents. During the Korean war, she was a nurse, treating the injured soldiers. She did her Post-Grad in Psychiatric Nursing in Melbourne, Australia for 2 years. She became Director of Nursing at Severance Hospital and Assistant Professor at Yonsei University. She is the mother to two daughters, Lisa Yoon Young Ho and Linda Yoon Jung Ho Gilson. In 1967, she bravely left Korea for Dallas, TX in search of better education opportunities for their daughters. Her relocation to Dallas was sponsored by Parkland Hospital. She along with 42 other Korean American “Angels in White” (nurses) formed the foundation of what now is a vibrant Korean community within the Dallas area. These families formed a tight-knit bond that over 50 years later, exists to this very day. She later earned her MSN at Texas Woman’s University.

She remained active in the North Texas Korean Nurses Association for fifty years where she created its first Korean Health Fair, and taught classes for the NCLEX—the national licensing exam, especially for Korean immigrant nurses. She spearheaded this organization as an early President and Chairperson. She also served as an advisor and mentor (continued through recent years), and as the Vice President of what is now the Overseas Korean Nurses Association (OKNA). She kept up with her Yonsei University College of Nursing alumni while in America. She was also an active volunteer at the American Heart Association (heart.org) for many years. Her nursing career was filled with multiple accolades including: Hearts of St. Paul in 1994, The Great 100 Nurses in 1997, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North Texas Korean Nurses Association. In 2016, she was awarded the Order of National Merit Mogryon Medal, a prestigious award given by the Republic of South Korea to citizens in recognition of outstanding civilian service.

She loved gardening, was very active in her church, and Love Love Loved babies - everyone’s babies! In her final years, she was blessed with great grandbabies – Alvie and Isak. Despite her waning health, holding her great grandbabies brought a warm smile and a sparkle to her eye. She was famous for her amazing egg rolls! With a servant’s heart, she loved to cook for family and friends. While she never learned to swim, she loved water. She would sit and stare at the ocean or lake and feel God’s presence. She also loved boat rides.

She took great pride in being a loving Grandma to her three grandchildren, Michelle Lim (after her Grandma), Camille Elizabeth, and Wyatt Edwin Gilson. She retired from nursing at age 70, and her grandchildren became the focus of her world and her love. While she never lived in the same city as her grandchildren, she was determined to spend as much time with them as she could, and travelled to be with them several times every year while frequently vacationing with them. She coordinated elaborate Chut Dol celebrations for her grandchildren and loved sharing their Korean culture and heritage with them.

She is survived by her two daughters Yoon Young and Yoon Jung (Lisa & Linda), her son-in-law David (Linda’s husband), three grandchildren-Michelle (and her husband Andy Fontanese), Camille, and Wyatt; and her two great grandsons-Alvie and Isak Lim (named after his Great Grandma), along with nieces, nephews, and countless friends & colleagues.

She will be missed by all who knew her. Surely, Jesus and the angels in heaven are welcoming her home.