Home Completely Lost in Thomas Fire
Donation protected
Here are the before and after photos of my Great Aunt Sooki's home, which was completely destroyed in the Thomas Fire in Ventura. Some of you may know her as the original owner of Sooki's Oriental Cuisine in Newbury Park (previously located in the Thousand Oaks Mall).
Sooki has lived in this home for almost 30 years, after immigrating to California from Korea. Her 87th birthday is this Friday.
Sadly, because the fire approached her home so quickly in the middle of the night, she was unable to take any belongings with her (besides her dogs). Because the power went out, she could not remove her car from inside of the garage (visible in destruction photo below).
Sooki, as the oldest surviving member on my mother's side of the family, lost all photographs from her childhood in Korea, including those of her mother, dating back to the early 1900's. The photographs of her late husband and her children's childhood (Aunt Christine and Uncle Hans) are also gone. Sooki also lost some of the most beautiful, antique, inlaid mother-of-pearl wardrobes filled with traditional Korean formal clothing, almost all made of silk.
This is especially heartbreaking to our family because her home was where we held so many family celebrations over the years. Although Sooki retired from the restaurant business several years ago, she still prepares her famous Korean steak on the BBQ for all of us on Thanksgivings, Easters, and Christmas'.
Although this has been a devastating loss, what we have lost is actually of little importance when we realize that we still have Sooki in our lives.
Please help us give back to Sooki/Mamo/Grandma for all of the wonderful things she has done for us and for the community.
Sooki has lived in this home for almost 30 years, after immigrating to California from Korea. Her 87th birthday is this Friday.
Sadly, because the fire approached her home so quickly in the middle of the night, she was unable to take any belongings with her (besides her dogs). Because the power went out, she could not remove her car from inside of the garage (visible in destruction photo below).
Sooki, as the oldest surviving member on my mother's side of the family, lost all photographs from her childhood in Korea, including those of her mother, dating back to the early 1900's. The photographs of her late husband and her children's childhood (Aunt Christine and Uncle Hans) are also gone. Sooki also lost some of the most beautiful, antique, inlaid mother-of-pearl wardrobes filled with traditional Korean formal clothing, almost all made of silk.
This is especially heartbreaking to our family because her home was where we held so many family celebrations over the years. Although Sooki retired from the restaurant business several years ago, she still prepares her famous Korean steak on the BBQ for all of us on Thanksgivings, Easters, and Christmas'.
Although this has been a devastating loss, what we have lost is actually of little importance when we realize that we still have Sooki in our lives.
Please help us give back to Sooki/Mamo/Grandma for all of the wonderful things she has done for us and for the community.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sarena Friedman
Organizer
Agoura Hills, CA
Christine Boysen
Beneficiary
