In-Soon (Koh) Chaffee Dunn passed away peacefully at her home in New London, New Hampshire, on July 14, 2026, at the age of 95. She had resided there for the past four years.

Born on December 31, 1930, in South Korea, In-Soon was the daughter of Keum-Dong Koh and Yang-Soon Koo. She spent her youth in Seoul, where she graduated from the prestigious Ewha Girls' School with the Class of 1948 and later attended Chong Hap College until the outbreak of the Korean War.

During the war, In-Soon worked as a telephone operator with the Korean Communications Zone of the Eighth Army Headquarters in Taegu, where she also served as a translator. It was there that she met her future husband, Fredrick R. Chaffee, a member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

In-Soon and Fredrick were married in Seoul on January 21, 1954. Two years later, she immigrated to the United States to begin a new life with her husband.

In 1968, In-Soon opened Matsu-ya Restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the first Korean and Japanese restaurants on the East Coast. Renowned for its authentic Asian cuisine, Matsu-ya served the community for nearly 30 years. As owner and operator, In-Soon was known for her tireless work ethic, unwavering determination, and commitment to excellence.

Beyond her success as a restaurateur, In-Soon earned the admiration and respect of the Korean community. She generously helped countless new immigrants find housing, employment, and opportunities to establish businesses of their own, often providing their first jobs through her restaurant.

While living in Woburn, Massachusetts, she was a longtime member of St. John's Korean Methodist Church in Lexington.

Following her retirement from the restaurant business, In-Soon began a second career as a Korean and Japanese medical interpreter for several Boston-area hospitals. She continued this work for nearly 20 years and was widely recognized as one of the oldest active hospital interpreters, inspiring colleagues and patients alike with her dedication and professionalism.

Throughout her life, In-Soon embraced many passions. She cultivated beautiful vegetable and flower gardens, traveled extensively to many of the world's great cities, and possessed an extraordinary talent for knitting. From baby sweaters to full-length coats, she created beautiful garments—often without using a pattern—leaving many family members and friends with cherished handmade gifts.

In-Soon is survived by her daughter, Janet Cain of Sunapee, New Hampshire; her son, Clifford Chaffee, and daughter-in-law, Tracey, of Raleigh, North Carolina; her son-in-law, David Cain; her grandchildren, Nick Cain of Denmark, Maine, Erika Cain of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Adeline Thompson and her husband, Jake, of Lake Stevens, Washington; and three beloved great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers, Dr. Joon-Young Koh of Los Angeles, California, and In-Young Koh of Clarksburg, Maryland.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Hyung-Soon Han of Pacific Palisades, California; her first husband, Fredrick R. Chaffee; and her second husband, John Dunn.

A memorial service will be held at St. John's Korean Methodist Church, 2600 Massachusetts Ave, in Lexington, Massachusetts, on November 7,2026 at 1:00PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the BAYADA Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 71934, Philadelphia, PA 19176-1934, or to The Nature Conservancy in honor of In-Soon's memory.

In-Soon's life was defined by perseverance, generosity, hard work, and love for her family and community. Her kindness touched countless lives, and her legacy will continue through all those who were fortunate enough to know her.

The Cremation Society of NH is assisting the family with arrangements. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolence, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.