Hi, my name is Anna, I am Yong-Ae Natzke’s daughter. It is with a heavy heart that we lost my mom early the morning of July 26th.

She was diagnosed with cancer 8 months ago and did two types of chemo treatments, but unfortunately it was aggressive and had spread too much, not slowing down with either chemo treatments. 

Everyone that knew my mom knows how selfless, generous, and kind she was. My dad passed when my sister and I were really young. My mom barely knew English and didn’t drive, but she did everything in her power to raise us in a loving, safe, and caring home. She put herself into bankruptcy and took a job in Maintenance at Wal-Mart in order to help our family. She cried the first day. And many days after, because some people would say awful, sometimes racist things to her. But she persevered. Instead of getting mad, she would ask why they would treat someone like that. And she was a ray of sunshine to those she worked with and customers.

If given the chance, she would feed everyone. She was a fantastic cook. She loved her garden, her dogs, her family, friends, and coworkers with her entire being. She didn’t have much, but what she did have, she was always willing to give and support her loved ones.

Through it all, her fighting attitude and optimism shone. Even in pain, when moving or drinking water were sometimes difficult tasks for her, she still smiled through it all and continued to help her family. She was put on hospice a few weeks before. We thought we’d have some more time with her, but are glad she is no longer suffering. She is now with her husband, her dad, and her first grandson. We love and miss her so, so much. 

My sister recently just had her son. His due date was July 29th, but he was born two months early, so he could meet his grandma. Due to medical bills and my sister being on maternity leave, the two of us are struggling with funeral funds. Her family is in Korea, with my grandma on hospice there and another close family member who also has lung cancer. Due to this, they are struggling financially and unable to help with the costs of the funeral. Anything extra will go towards the extra medical expenses, a memorial for her as well as donations to cancer research. 

We are eternally grateful for any assistance during this tough time. Our family would like to offer  condolences and love to others who have experienced tragic loss through cancer. It’s really difficult seeing a loved ones go through the pain this illness wreaks. 

If you would like to donate directly, you can send donations to [email redacted] via PayPal. 

If you knew Yong-Ae or were touched by her story, please consider sharing. Thank you. ❤️

Our family. We may be a small family, but there were so many good memories and so much love. ❤️

Last September, before her diagnosis. 

Last Christmas, holding two of her dogs. 

In May, when she switched over to another chemo treatment. This was a few days before she lost most of her hair. 

July 3rd, meeting her grandson for the first time. He was in the NICU and they only let parents visit due to the pandemic. But my mother was placed in hospice July 2nd and the hospital was accommodating and made an exception, giving us a private room to spend time with baby Adrian.