By Christina Santucci
Several hundred mourners turned out for the funeral Saturday of the Woodside nurse killed in the Metro-North Railroad train derailment who was remembered for her dedication to nursing.
“I’m sure she is in the grace of God,” Father Paul Cang told the people gathered at St. Sebastian’s Church in Woodside. “We pray for her and also we never forget.”
Woodside resident Kisook Ahn, who worked at Sunshine Children’s Home and Rehab Center in upstate Ossining, had been on a Metro-North train that left Poughkeepsie at 4:54 a.m. Dec. 1 and derailed near the Spuyten Duyvil station in the Bronx about 7:20 a.m.
She and three others were killed, and more than 60 others were injured, authorities said.
“On the day of her baptism, the Easter candle was lighted,” Rev. Msgr. Michael Hardiman, referring to Ahn by Grace, her baptismal name. “You who are her family and friends and fellow parishioners … know how well our sister Grace was able to carry that light of Christ.”
Kisook Ahn’s former instructor, Dr. Catherine Alicia Georges, head of Lehman College’s nursing department, spoke of Kisook Ahn’s love of nursing.
“She was passionate about what she did,” Georges said, while standing on the steps of St. Sebastian’s. “We said she embodied everything we wanted people to have in our profession.”
Jin-Won Ahn, Kisook Ahn’s brother who traveled from South Korea to New York for his sister’s funeral, spoke through a translator after the mass, which was conducted mostly in Korea. He said his sister planned to learn about autism in order to help his 8-year-old son, Kyun-Chul Ahn, and possibly bring the boy to this country for medical treatment.
“Ahn Kisook’s dream mission to come here was to learn about autism,” community leader John Park translated for Jin-Won Ahn, who carried a framed photo of his sister in the funeral procession.
Kisook’s brother-in law, Eui-Ho Kim, also attended the service in place of his wife, Kisook Ahn’s sister, who remained in South Korea.
“She can’t stand with this tragedy. She is too shocked,” Park said, explaining that the sister was worried about fainting. “She asked her husband to go there and take care of her sister.”
The family is planning another funeral in South Korea after she is cremated, relatives said. Jin-Won Ahn also said the family was speaking with several lawyers.
Outside the church on Roosevelt Avenue, Jin-Won Ahn recalled how his sister adored her young relatives, never forgetting to send presents and e-mails for birthdays and other special occasions.
“She loved children, especially her nieces and nephews,” Park said as Jin-Won Ahn spoke in Korean.
Kisook Ahn paid for her school expenses with a part-time job, graduated top of her class and worked in the best hospital in her homeland, her brother said.
“She came here to pursue her dream,” Park translated for Jin-Won Ahn. “Even in Korea, she did a lot of jobs for good works.”
Jin-Won Ahn choked up when describing how helpless he felt because he could not come to his sister’s aid.
“He couldn’t help her,” Park explained.
Reach managing editor Christina Santucci by e-mail at timesledgerphotos@gmail.com by phone at 718-260-4589.
