This is an excerpt from the eulogy spoken at Burning Bush United Methodist Church 

I have known Esther for as long as I have known my wife Aekyung because the first thing Ae did after she met me, in the winter of 1987 in San Francisco, was to call Esther.

Since then, I have heard As and Esther talking on the phone to share about everyday life, the Kuark family stories, all the children (recently Lisa), Ae's mission work, and Miki's restaurant business.

Ae & Esther were best friends, loving sisters, and at times Esther was a substitute mother.  Esther was like a "mother hen" and "wise elder" to all of us.

Why did she have such a motherly heart? Esther was only six years older than Ae. Maybe it was because she and Ae's mother passed away early in their lives? Maybe it was because Esther was the first to get married (with Brian), first to settle down in America, and first to have a child (Tim)?  She and Brian helped all of the family to settle down in Los Angeles and Maryland.  They were truly there when it mattered. 

Everyone sought Esther's advice for two main reasons. 

First, she had an amazing, personal, intimate, strong relationship with God. Esther's prayer life (devotional life) with God was her energy source that she shared with others. 

I remember, in everything that would happen in life, she would say: 

Thank you, Jesus. . . 

Praise Jesus. . . 

Praise the Lord . . . 

Hallelujah . . . and 

Thank you, Holy Spirit . . .

Esther was so joyful about life. She remained humble before God.  She was a peacemaker for the family. She did not like to hear gossip.  She never said anything negative about others, and she always saw the positive in others and the hope in our lives.

This brings me to the second reason,

I remember Esther chose her name from the Book of Esther.  In the bible, Esther was a prayer warrior.  Esther in the bible and Esther had an incredible gift for intercessory prayer.  Esther fervently prayed for the immediate and extended family, for pastors and seminarians, and for missionaries.  Esther believed in and practiced collective prayers with her prayer network.  She was bold in her prayers because she knew her prayers were aligned with God's heart and will.

Sadly, Esther could not be with us a little while longer in this earthly world.

But I know in my heart that she will always be with us in our memories and the things she taught us with her words and actions.

I know in my heart that she is still with us.  Esther is praying for us in heaven, watching us go through our messy lives, encouraging us, giving us advice at the moments when we need her the most; and joyfully laughing and "praising Jesus" at how God is working in our lives . . . 

Esther, I will really miss you.  But I know in my heart you are always with us in spirit and waiting for us in heaven.

With love, Frank (Ae's husband)