Maria Myoung Joo Rhee, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, December 28, 2024. Born on May 1, 1933 in Busan, Korea, she was the youngest of three children. She spent her primary school years in Japan and was fluent in Japanese. After the Korean War, she graduated from Soodo Women's Teachers' College (now Sejong University) in Seoul, South Korea. She volunteered in the Korean Army as a registered nurse and began her teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Home Economics at her alma mater. She was introduced to her husband, the late Dr. Alphonso Young Soo Rhee, by his aunt, a Catholic nun. Soon after they were married and had their son, she followed her husband to Baltimore in 1965. In 1969, she began teaching "adult night school" at area high schools in the Baltimore County Adult Education Program. For nearly 50 years, she taught; Creative Stitchery, Sewing, Needlepoint, Knitting, Crocheting, Hairpin and Broomstick Lace, and Afghan Stitch. She also taught Asian cooking; Korean, Japanese and Chinese. Her handiwork has been displayed at a number of local public libraries. In 2014, she was proud to receive the "Outstanding Educator Award" from the Baltimore County Public Schools and was honored for her 45 years of teaching service. While she often noted English was not her "first language," she delighted in helping students develop creative skills and discover their own natural aptitudes. She was active in the Korean Catholic Church and her favorite trip was to the Vatican, Medjugorje and Rome. She enjoyed playing in her ladies tennis league, gardening and, later in life, practicing yoga.

She is survived by her children; Samuel, Bernard (wife Amanda) and Sandra (husband Christopher), and grandchildren; Zoe, Addison and Joseph. Friends may call at the family owned Ruck-Towson Funeral Home, 1050 York Road (at Beltway exit 26) on Thursday, January 2, 2025, 2-4 PM & 6-8 PM. A Korean-Language Catholic Mass and Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 3, 2025, 11 AM at the Holy Korean Martyrs Catholic Church, 5801 Security Boulevard, Gwyn Oak, MD.  21207.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Community College of Baltimore County. https://foundation.ccbcmd.edu/g/support-ccbc-crowdfunding/