Obituary: Sister Lucia Yu, Doctor and Maryknoller

From the Dorsey Funeral Home

Sister Lucia (Lucy) Yu, M.M. died on November 9 th , 2020 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

She was born on January 11 th , 1931 in Kyung Nam, Pusan, South Korea to Ki Duc Bin (mother) and In Kun YU (father). She had two brothers: Dr. Bong Yel Yu and Kang Yel Yu, (deceased) and two sisters: Mrs. Ye Ja Yu and Soon Ok Yu (deceased).

In 1947, Lucy graduated from Kyung Nam Girls High School in Pusan, South Korea. She then enrolled at Seoul Women’s Medical College, Pusan to study medicine and earned an M.D. in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1955. To continue her studies further she went to the U.S. for a few years before returning to South Korea in 1964. There, she worked as Chief Doctor in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Maryknoll Hospital, Pusan until 1965.

On September 16 th , 1965 Lucy entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Quezon City, Philippines.

She made her First Profession of Vows on April 30 th , 1968 and her Final Profession of Vows on
April 5 th , 1975.

Sister Lucy received her first mission assignment to Africa after making her First Vows. When she arrived to Kinango, Kenya, she studied Kiswahili and then served as Resident M.D. and Hospital Administrator in the government hospital from 1969-1975. She then served as Diocesan Medical Coordinator in Kisii, Kenya from 1977-1982. During this time, she also earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health in 1983. After receiving her Degree, she was in charge of the Village Health Center in Bura-Tana River, Kenya until 1988.

Sister Lucy was called back to the U.S. in 1989 to serve as Program Assistant in the Support Services Department for the elderly Sisters at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll NY until 1990. She then joined the Congregation’s Development Department and served on the Mission Education and Promotion Team until 1992.

Sister Lucy once again returned to South Korea this time to work at St. Joseph’s Clinic for the poor until 1994. For the next few years, she immersed herself in education field teaching students. In 1996, she was assigned to Northeast Normal University in Jilin Province, China to teach Medical English until 2000. During this time, she also taught English at Jilin Electro-Engineering University. In 2004, she returned to Seoul, South Korea to serve as Staff Doctor at St. Joseph Clinic and provide medical care for the homeless until 2007. In 2005, Sister Lucy received The 21 st Annual Award from the Korean Medical Association and the Boryung Pharmaceutical Company.
In 2008, Sister Lucy returned to the U.S. to retire at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Monrovia, CA where she remained active with volunteer work until 2014.

In 2015, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

Funeral Arrangements were handled by Dorsey Funeral Home, Inc. in Ossining: Sister Lucy’s body was interred in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery.