Stephanie In Sun Kim, age 51, of Toronto, ON, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 7th, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

She is survived by her partner of 25 years, Philip; their children, Candice and Bryce; her parents, Soon-Kie and Jeong-Ae; her siblings, Sarah (Brian) and Daniel (Hanna); many adoring nieces and nephews; and her most beloved fluffy companion, Cashew.

Stephanie began her studies in pharmacology at the University of Toronto before earning her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the National University of Health Sciences in Chicago, IL. A lifelong learner and quietly brilliant, she even studied acupuncture at Shuguang Hospital in Shanghai, China, while travelling with Philip post-graduation. She loved to learn—a proud member of the “Neuro Ninjas” while completing her studies in Chicago. Very nerdy, very her.

She immigrated to Canada from South Korea in middle school with her parents and two siblings. Growing up as the eldest in a lively household shaped her into someone incredibly selfless, always putting others before herself and leading with gentleness, understanding, and quiet strength.

Stephanie and Philip were married in the summer of 2000. Back when they were dating, he used to show up at her dorm in a stretched limo—not because he was trying to impress her, but because it was cheaper than a taxi. Nonetheless, whether it was the limo or his frugality (thanks to being an accountant), it worked. After graduation, the two of them set off to travel the world together, visiting “more countries than they could count.” Eventually, they returned to Toronto to start a family and build a life filled with love, laughter, and lots of snacks.

Stephanie worked full-time as a chiropractor for many years, then transitioned to part-time so she could be home more with Candice and Bryce while they were young. Her philosophy on parenting was simple: have as much fun as possible. And that’s exactly what they did. From full-blown Nerf war birthday parties to a nice brunch out “just because,” being with her was the best part of every day. She was the kind of mom you just wanted to be around—because she made everything feel lighter, sillier, and more full of life.

Eventually, due to illness, she transitioned into retirement—but if you asked her, she’d probably say some of her best years were just beginning. She poured herself into new passions: stained glass, doodling, baking sourdough, crushing cases of Perrier, collecting passport stamps, and indulging in infinite amounts of Fudgesicles. More than anything, she cherished time with her family.

No one ever left her house hungry—or without feeling deeply cared for. In her final chapter, she found the most joy in the simple things: chats on her flower-filled patio (her “oasis”), admiring gardens (especially other people’s), and lavishing Cashew with compliments like he was royalty (+ sneaking him yummy food under our glass table).

Stephanie didn’t care much for material things—except maybe her pink bean pillow from Korea—but she loved people. She had this rare gift for making others feel seen, safe, and loved. She also died knowing Cashew was, and still is, the cutest puppy in the world and that vinegar or hot sauce could fix any meal. On top of coming to all of these profound realizations, she also made time to watch the show, Reply 1988, at least five times—and of course, cried every single time.

She was the strongest person we’ve ever known. Stephanie battled health issues for most of her life but met every challenge with courage, grit, and grace. She beat the odds again and again and taught all of us what it means to fight for the people and the moments that matter. Her doctor compared her to a Phoenix, always rising from the ashes. And now, our family is at peace knowing that she is in better hands than we could ever provide.