A lasting memorial for a beloved Windsor Terrace merchant is one step closer to becoming a reality.
Members of the Windsor Terrace Alliance announced last week that they are in the process of getting a plaque and a tree guard to adorn the sapling planted in front of Eden’s Cleaners at the corner of 10th Avenue and Windsor Terrace Place in honor of Kyung-Sook “Linda” Woo.
Woo, 63, was murdered inside Eden Dry Cleaners, which she owned, back on May 16.
In the wake of her death, stunned neighbors thought that a living memorial would be a perfect tribute to the beloved businesswoman, who some said “was like an Aunt to everyone.”
Members of the Windsor Terrance Alliance led the charge for the tree planting and plaque, which is being paid for by the Linda Woo Memorial Fund, which they set up.
At their September meeting, Alliance co-founder Lauren Collins, said that the fund has so far raised $836. State Senator Eric Adams has agreed to add another $800 for the plaque, she said.
“The parks department planted the tree in front of the store and we put in a request for a tree guard,” said Collins. “We’re going to find out in the Fall if it’s going to happen.”
If a tree guard is approved, the ensemble for the memorial will be complete, Collins said.
Once the plaque and the base are purchased, any money left over will be given to Woo’s family, to be used at their discretion.
Woo was found strangled to death inside the dry cleaners this past May during what cops have described as a botched robbery.
Cops said that they were called to the dry cleaners at 8:30 a.m. on May 16 when concerned family members went searching for the Queens woman, only to find her face down in a rear bathroom.
Neighbors shocked by the news said that they thought something was wrong when they saw someone other than Woo close up the dry cleaners for the night.
Cops created a sketch of the male, who was later identified as 22-year-old Jamal Winter of 14th Street, who was arrested for killing her before taking her car, a 2008 white Honda Accord.
Prosecutors allege that Winter was seen inside of the dry cleaners with Woo at 4:30 p.m. the night before her body was discovered.
Roughly three hours later, area residents hoping to pick up their dry cleaning found Winter inside. He told them that Woo had left and that the store was closed.
Police said that they lifted a fingerprint off a bottle found inside the dry cleaners which came back to Winter, a parolee.
Cops went to question Winter and found him in possession of Woo’s car, officials said. He was immediately charged with murder and robbery.
For a week after her death, distraught customers and neighbors peppered the shuttered dry cleaners with flowers and notes, offering Woo’s family their condolences.
“You were like an aunt to everyone,” one note taped to the metal roll down gate read. “My heart is heavy with sadness.”
“Thank you for being such a kind neighbor,” another note read.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Linda Woo Memorial Fund can do so by mailing a check to The Linda Woo Memorial Fund, c/o Brenna Beirne, 711 Greenwood Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11218.
One can also make a donation at the Windsor Terrace Alliance website at www.windsorterracealliance.org.
