Ossining's Sunshine Nurse Killed in Derailment Honored in Three Ceremonies

Kisook Ahn, 35, one of four who died in the Dec. 1 derailment of a Metro-North train in the Bronx, has been remembered in three regional ceremonies, including a very special one at the Ossining children’s home she was returning from that morning.

Her coworkers, family members and friends held a memorial for her at Ossining's Sunshine Children's Home, placing a stone on their property etched with her name, flowers, and the title “registered nurse” which she worked so hard in the United States to achieve. Ahn came to New York in 2008 from South Korea to study nursing.

The facility will be dedicating a newly built room to her as well, reports News Channel 12 in a video of the ceremony here. 

This service followed a funeral for Ahn at the Saint Sebastian Roman Catholic Church near her apartment in Woodside, Queens, a 1.5 hour commute to her Ossining overnight job.

NYDaily News reported on the funeral, describing, 

Tears echoed from the pews…as the Rev. Msgr. Michael Hardiman and Father Paul Cang hailed Ahn’s devotion to her family.

"She is with the grace of God at this moment," said Cang. “We pray for her and we never forget her.”

Her brother, Jinwon Ahn, who had just arrived from South Korea for this tragic event, walked behind the casket carrying her photo. Jinwon said, according to the NYDaily News article, that Ahn came here to study nursing in order to better help his son, who has autism.

“That's why she worked at Sunshine Children's Home and Rehab Center,” Jinwon said. “She wanted to help him.”

Finally, the Lehman branch of CUNY, where Ahn received her bachelor’s and master’s in nursing, remembered a model student. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Kisook’s family and friends – in the United States and South Korea,” said President Ricardo R. Fernández. “The entire Lehman College community stands ready to help during this difficult and painful time.”

“We are completely stunned and saddened by today’s news,” said Catherine Alicia Georges, chair of Lehman College’s nursing department. “Kisook was a model student, who did well in both her undergraduate and graduate programs.”

The school has set up a scholarship in her honor.

A scholarship fund has been established by the Lehman College Foundation and Perfect Choice Staffing, the firm that brought Ms. Ahn and other nurses to the U.S. from South Korea. The fund will help nursing students at Lehman College.

Donate to the Kisook Ahn Fund online here or mail a check made out to “Lehman College Foundation/Kisook-Ahn” to:

Lehman College Foundation

Shuster Hall Room 310

250 Bedford Park Blvd. West

Bronx, NY  10468