Sooja Lee Ko

Sooja Lee Ko, age 79, of Hockessin, DE, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at her home.

She attended Kyunggi Girls High School in Seoul, Korea and then went on to attend Seoul National University and graduated in 1972. She earned a degree in pharmacy from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA in 1984.

Sooja’s career as a pharmacist spanned several decades. She worked for Seoul National University Hospital in 1972, and she owned Joong-ang Pharmacy in Seoul from 1973 to 1977. She later worked for St. Francis Hospital from 1984 to 2009.

She immigrated to the United States in 1977. It was then, that she married her husband, Soo Sung Ko.

Sooja always actively contributed to her community. While attending college she served as president of the Women’s Student Committee at Seoul National University. Prior to immigrating to the U.S., she was an active member of the Jongro-gu Pharmacist Association.

Sooja had a vibrant personality and enjoyed singing and dancing especially Korean folk dance. She sang in the choir at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, the Korean Catholic Church of Wilmington, Delaware, as well as the St. Francis Hospital choir. She also participated in the choir at the Osher Life-Long Learning Institute of Delaware.

She is survived by her loving husband, Soo Sung Ko, her daughter, Tracey Ko Berman and son-in-law, Joseph Berman of Bryn Mawr, PA, and her granddaughters, Charlotte and Caroline. She also leaves behind her sister, Young Ja Lee of Seoul, Korea and her niece, Yoonji Chung.

Sooja’s memory will be cherished by all those who had the privilege to know her.

Friends and family are invited to a prayer service from 6:30 to 7:00pm at Chandler Funeral Home, Wilmington, DE on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, with a visitation to follow from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 11:00am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Wilmington, DE. Burial will follow at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, 1600 Sproul Rd, Springfield, PA 19064.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Sooja’s name to the Penn Memory Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, South Pavillion, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104.