Chong Sun Dobrowolski

              In Memory of Chong Sun Dobrowolski: March 12, 1937 – May 5, 2025

We are sad to announce the death of Chong Sun Dobrowolski, beloved mother, grandmother, friend, and neighbor. Chong passed away at her long-term care residence in Bellevue, Washington at the age of 88 on Monday, May 5, 2025.

Chong was born on March 12, 1937, to Sun Chon Chang (father from the Indong Jang Clan) and Jon Bang Ko (mother) in Chongju City, South Korea. She fell in love with Richard S. Dobrowolski in 1962 and married him on July 13, 1964. Soon thereafter, she immigrated to the United States. On June 5, 1968, Chong became a proud United States citizen while living in Natrona, Pennsylvania.

During her early life in America, Chong succeeded at many jobs, but she proved to be especially talented in the kitchen, which landed her opportunities in the food industry from catering for a country club to cooking as a lead chef for a Mexican restaurant. Later in life, Chong dedicated herself to volunteering for her Korean Catholic Church. She worked 20 to 30 hours a week for her church, doing everything from singing in the choir to cooking meals after Sunday services to visiting ailing seniors and providing them with food and entertainment on a weekly basis. She served tirelessly as one of her church’s Legion of Mary volunteers and received great joy from comforting others.

Chong is most remembered for her courage, strength, independence, huge heart, ‘can-do’ spirit, and her love for her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. A few of Chong’s favorite hobbies were fine embroidering of Korean silk screens, painting black and white watercolors, gardening (she had a real green thumb), flower-arranging, and sewing a variety of items that ranged from her own clothes to gifts for her friends and church members. She enjoyed chatting, eating, singing, and dancing with her friends.

She also had an adventurous spirit. With her church group, she made a pilgrimage to Croatia to visit its holy sites and churches during the war between Croatia and Serbia. Later, she generously gave her time to uproot her life and live with her daughter and her family in Paris, France to help nurture her first grandchild. While living there, she continued her religious pilgrimages and visited Lourdes, France and Rome, Italy which were two dreams of hers. After returning to Washington State, Chong’s severe arthritis and caring for her ailing husband precluded her from further travels, which she greatly missed.

Chong was predeceased by her husband Richard S. Dobrowolski, both of her parents, and her siblings in Korea (most of whom were lost during wars). She is survived by her daughter, son-in-law, and three grandsons and their significant others.

Anyone wanting to say final goodbyes to Chong is welcome to come to Klontz Funeral Home in Auburn on Friday, May 9th 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. A graveside service will be held at Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery in Federal Way, Washington on Monday, May 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Paul Chong Hasang Korean Catholic Church in Fife, Washington, a cause Chong felt strongly about.