Katherine Lee -- a Bensalem High School valedictorian and Ivy League graduate -- was also a Sunday School teacher in a Korean Presbyterian church in West Philadelphia, The Trentonian learned yesterday.

Her death has led to an outpouring of grief from members of that congregation.

"She was one of the few people that had no enemies," read one message on the Emmanuel Presbyterian church's Web site.

"Everyone was an admirer."

Dozens of similar messages and poems filled the site honoring the 24-year-old victim known as "Klee" or "Kat" by her friends.

In addition to teaching Sunday School Lee was a Bible study leader in one of the congregation's youth groups.

More than 90 people showed up at a prayer meeting Monday to reflect on Lee's life, Rev. Paul Kim, of the West Philadelphia church, said.

Police have charged Lee's aunt, Euisoon Cho, 47, with the murder but are still unclear about a motive.

Friends and family also struggled for answers.

"I still don't know why this happened," said Chong Lee, the woman's father as he spoke to reporters Tuesday at his home where Lee was killed.

"My heart is broken."

Lee told reporters that his family is dealing with the death of one member and the incarceration of another.He still loves his sister-in-law, he said.

Police believe Cho attacked her niece with an 11-inch claw hammer sometime after 9:45 p.m. Sunday. Lee had just returned from an outing with her boyfriend, Timothy Whee.

Friends say Whee has fallen ill since Lee's tragic death and was hospitalized for a short time.

"He is doing as good as he can," said William Yoo, a close friend of the couple.

Yoo, 25, of Silver Spring, Md., said he is confused about why anyone would want to kill the bubbly and gifted young woman.

Yoo attended the University of Pennsylvania with Lee, and said they shared a close friendship.

"She was diminutive in size," Yoo said, of the 5-feet-something Lee.

"But there was a big heart in there.She had the biggest heart of anyone I know. That's why it has been such a really hard week."

Yoo received the tragic news Monday morning.His fiancée Sarah told him that their dear friend "Klee" was dead.

Lee just wanted to be a blessing to all that knew her,he added.

"She loved God supremely," Yoo said.

Yoo recalled many times walking into Lee's dorm room at U. Penn and seeing second- and third-grade students sitting on the floor being tutored.

"Miss Katherine was the best tutor teacher in my entire life," wrote one young person on the church's site.

"I hope she is happy in heaven. Her memories will go on," the note continued.

In Lee's memory, friends say they are choosing to remember how Lee lived and not the way she died.

Yoo said that Lee loved her family so much that after graduating from college she decided to move back home, while others moved away.

She was filled with the spirit of God, he said.And it is God that is helping her church and blood families cope with her murder.

"We turn to prayer and God," he said.

"Even though we don't understand why or how it all happened, we know that God is in control."

Though the last minutes of her life were filled with violence and horror, friends say they can find solace knowing Lee is in a better place now.

"I think remembering Katherine's compassion, forgiveness and kindness helps us want to be the same way," Yoo added.

"That's what she would want us to do."

A viewing for Katherine Lee is being held tonight at 8 p.m. at the Bucks County Presbyterian Church.

Trentonian, The (Trenton, NJ)
Date: February 12, 2004
Author: TRYMAINE D. LEE