On Sunday, September 13, 2020, we learned that Sepe Bolkiem had died of a heart attack. Her friends and family mourn her sudden loss. A friend and family member, whose youngest sister was adopted by Sepe Bolkiem’s family, and who had recommended her to her position at Parson Hills Elementary School, said that she was “really one of a kind, always ready to work and help the Marshallese community.” Her friends and family will miss her and miss seeing her crazy personality.
Sepe Bolkiem was featured by Chikin Meļeļe in Wūlio ‘m Deo in the issue published on May 16, 2020. The following is what she wrote of herself:
Iakwe! Eta in Sepe Bolkeim, n̄a jiron̄ in Majuro, Ebon, Kwajlein im Kabinmeto. Ewōr 5 nejū ajri, 2 ledrik im 3 ļadik. N̄a ij jerbal ilo juon iaan m̧ōn jikuuļ ke ilo Springdale in, Parson Hills Elementary School. Jerbal e aō ej Marshallese Liaison, āinwōt juon iaan ri jipan̄ n̄an ri M̧ajeļ ro ilo jikuuļ e. Ilo aō jerbal ippān staff rā ak rikaki rā, ellukun lōn̄ men ko ij ekatak kaki. Ejjab ilo jeļāļo̧kjen wōt ak eļaptata ilo aer likun joļo̧k aer iien ippān ri jikuuļ rein. Ilo aer kwaļo̧k aer nebar er kōn katak kā aer, ilo aer kwaļo̧k aer support er, ilo aer mōņōņō in jipan̄ ilo iien aer aikuj jipan̄. Eļaptata men eo ij lo ke eļap an aorōk n̄an kōj mama im papa ro im baam̧le eo ej ilo ad itok n̄an aolep iien aer būrokraam̧, activity im m̧akūtkūt ko jet an jikuuļ kein aer.