Sueko Good

Sueko (Kurahashi) Good, 86, formerly of Winthrop Harbor, IL quietly passed from death to life January 9, 2018 at Brookdale Kenosha. She will be remembered as a supportive wife, untiring mother, caring Grandma  and a cheerful, hard worker.

Born in Yokohama, Japan on December 5, 1931, she was named Sueko which means “youngest girl child.” Her parents were older when she was born; all her siblings except one sister Haru, were already grown and raising families of their own. Sueko’s mother found work at a private hospital in a distant town after her husband suffered a stroke. Sueko helped to care for her father while he regained his strength. She loved tagging along with her father; seeing her mother on occasional weekends. Sueko eventually went to live with her mother at that hospital and attended high school across the street.

Sueko was led to faith in Jesus Christ as a young adult by American missionaries following WWII. She recounted stories of her newfound faith; travelling by train to revivals and church and her desire to follow her Savior. Sueko was baptized and given the name “Dorcas”. Those familiar with Acts Chapter 9 will recognize how affirming and how prophetic that turned out to be. Sueko became attracted to a Christian American soldier, Corporal Donald Good at the Tokyo Army Hospital where he was stationed and where she worked at the PX during the Allied Occupation of Japan. They married on January 10, 1952 and remained united until Donald’s death in 2005.

Donald brought Sueko to the United States in 1953. Understandably disowned by her family she bravely raised her family in America where she became a proud naturalized citizen. She lived the life of a military dependent spouse, raising 9 children and moving a dozen times during Donald’s 20+ year Army career.  Sueko found unique ways to show her love and build esteem in each of her children. We all have stories of how she showed up at important times and bailed each of us out at one time or another. Sueko was the champion cook of a small army and the master of making ends meet. We all aspire to her faith, strength of character, responsibility, work ethic and putting others ahead of herself. Sports were pure joy for her. She would throw the baseball and play ping pong with her kids and jump rope with the biggest smile and exclamations. She learned how to swim in her 50’s! Sueko was a huge fan of the repeat, three-peat Chicago Bulls. She loved animals and enjoyed walking her German Shepherd mix dogs, Heidi and Mindy .

As a teenager Sueko was trained in patient care by her mother and she worked in hospitals wherever she could during Donald’s military years and beyond. She was called “Susie” by co-workers and overcame language and educational limitations to serve as a nurse’s aide with amazing skill, energy, kindness, a smile and sense of humor. One would think she had enough babies of her own but she loved caring for newborn babies and their mothers, choosing to work the PM and midnight shifts while hers were safe at home. She was gifted with healing hands and comforting arms. Sueko almost always worked as a waitress part time; working on her days off and when her kids were in school to help with family finances. Sueko eventually retired from Victory Memorial Hospital in Waukegan to care for her husband who suffered from advanced Parkinson’s. All her children look back in wonder and profound gratefulness for her deep love and commitment. Despite memory loss due to dementia, Sueko remained very sweet.

Sueko was preceded in death by her parents Musaburo and Miyoe Kurahashi, her husband Donald, infant son Thomas, daughter Patricia and grandson Christopher. She is survived by her children Paul (Pati) of Kenosha, WI; Donald, Jr. (Sandy) of South Jordan, Utah; Marti Korpi (John) of Zion, IL; David (Tracy) of Kenosha, WI; Raymond of Round Lake Beach, IL; Rosemary Galvan of Round Lake Beach, Il; Carl of Zion, IL; Allen (Missy) of Winthrop Harbor, IL. She is Grandma to Michael, Mark, Natalie, Georgette McIntosh (Jason), Brian (Anna), Matthew (Quinn), Heather Mann (Jack), Jonathan, Dawn Korpi, Andrew, Michael, Nicholas, Matthew and Jacqueline. She is Great Grandma to Alexander & Jacob; Cameron & Riley; Bryce; Liam, Abigail & Connor; Grayson & Anderson and Kellan.

The entire family expresses their sincere appreciation for Mom’s wonderful caregivers at Brookdale Kenosha and Hospice Alliance.

Sueko will be interred alongside her husband Monday January 15th at a family service at Ft. Sheridan Cemetery.