Xiu Thi Pham (Mom, Grandma, Ba ngoai, Ba co) entered eternal life on Thursday, February 14, 2019, after five years of being bedridden, at the care of her children. Xiu was born on June 4, 1944 in Thon Phu Vinh, Tinh Khanh Hoa, Vietnam to Pham Ba Canh and Huynh Thi Kiet. She fled Vietnam in 1975 after the war with 5 children, the oldest being 13 years old and the youngest only 3 months old. She lost a child in route to the United States of America. She arrived in the States as a Vietnam War refugee, and a single mother to 4 young girls age, ranging from 3 to 13. A year later, she gave birth to another son.
Her life had many obstacles. She suffered much heartache and loss, including losing 3 husbands to the war with the first one when she was only 19 years of age. At age 31, she left her native country without relatives or any preparation to live a completely foreign culture. At age 45, she lost her left leg due to domestic violence. Her perseverance, ability to survive, and inner strength are wonderful inheritance reflected through her children life successes and academic accomplishments.
She preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, two older brothers, a younger sister, and two sons. Her spirit is carried on by her 5 children, 7 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren: Mai Hoa Thi (Huynh) Lindsey, eldest daughter and son-in-law Sam (Houston, TX); Xuan Lan Thi (Huynh) Young, daughter and son-in-law Rick (Leesburg, VA); Xuan Nguyen Thi (Huynh) Stanton, daughter (Austin, TX); Bich Thuy Thi (Huynh) Sim, daughter and son-in-law Alan (Washington D.C); David Pham Dang, son (Houston, TX); Jennifer Thuy-Linh (Nguyen) Tran, granddaughter, husband Danny and children, Ella Pham and Cameron (Houston, TX); Thu Oanh Thi Le, granddaughter and son George Bennett Huynh Fritts (Roseville, CA); Vuong Ngoc Mai Phuong, granddaughter (Vietnam); Isabel Le-Pham Stanton, granddaughter (Austin, TX); Philip Le-Pham Stanton, grandson (Austin, TX); Jacob-Bradley Thanh Sim, grandson (New York City, NY); and Darius Hahn, grandson (Hannover, Germany).
A Celebration of Xiu's life will be held on Saturday, March 30th, 2019 in Houston, Texas at a location to be determined. In her memory and honor, please visit an elderly person, make a donation to a domestic abuse charity, or thank a Vietnam War veteran.