Sunly Lao

On Saturday, December 26, 2020, Sunly Lao, loving and caring mother of 9 children, 29 grandchildren, and 18 grandchildren passed at the age of 89.

Sunly Lao was born on July 8, 1932 in Cambodia to her parents Mr. Lao Touch and Mrs. Han Heum, and was the oldest of her 10 siblings.

She spent her early years in Cambodia caring for her 9 children whom she had with her husband Chheang Noeng. Unfortunately one of her sons passed due to an illness at a young age. During her time in Cambodia she was a kind and loving housewife that took great care of her children, siblings and country folk. In the year 1955, the lives of her and her family would forever be changed as it was the start of the Vietnam war, which would later result in the Khmer Rouge around 1973. Using her perseverance, intelligence and kindness, Sunly and Chheang were able to lead their family through immense hardships while traveling through the countries of Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Philippines.

Sunly and her family would eventually find their way to the United States on May 5, 1982. She worked as a seamstress to help support her family, eventually opening a sewing shop in 1988. She would retire from her work in 1993, even so she continued to use her skills to help her friends and family whenever she could.

Sunly was a very energetic and adventurous woman no matter her age. In her years of retirement she traveled to many places in the United States including New York and the Nation’s Capital in Washington DC and many places in the world from Australia and New Zealand to the many countries in Europe such as France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and England. In 2012, she even made a pilgrimage to India to visit the birthplace and resting of Buddha. When she wasn’t on an adventure seeing new places, she would spend her free time gardening. She was a skilled gardener. Planting roses and orchids in the front of her porch, one of her most prominent gardening achievements was her great cherimoya tree. Her cherimoya tree would bear some of the best fruit that she would give to her family and friends.

Above all things, she enjoyed spending time with her family. Setting up large gatherings and celebrations, inviting all of her relatives near and far so that all could enjoy each others’ company.

Sunly was the pillar and head of her enormous family, and vigilant and loving mother. Her family will greatly miss her beautiful smile and her amazing laugh, that would come with her great sense of humor. Her presence would light up a room, as she brought a sense of joy to those she would meet. Her grandchildren cherish the time that they were able to spend with their grandmother gardening, watching movies, and listening to the stories and advice from her life. They will forever remain inspired by her and continue to carry the lessons that she taught them in the time they enjoyed together.

She is survived by her 8 children Samson Date Noeng, Thavak-Ry Noeng, Thavak-Rin Noeng, Chavimany Noeng, Suthy Noeng, Victor Noeng, Vipheavy Noeng, and Kesei Komrong Perez, her 29 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her younger brother Lao Sun Pa.

Sunly’s Service will be held on January 25, 2021 in the Luyben Dilday Mortuary, and her funeral will take place at the Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks in Cypress.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401