Samly Sovidaray's Obituary
Samly Sovidaray, the beloved matriarch of the Sovidaray family, passed away peacefully in her San Diego home on February 15, 2026, at the age of 93. A woman of immense faith, courage, and culinary mastery, she spent her final days surrounded by the family she spent a lifetime building.
Born on March 3, 1930, in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, Samly lived through nearly a century of history. In 1978, at the age of 48, she displayed incredible bravery by immigrating to the United States. Despite the challenges of a new language and culture, she successfully relocated all 11 of her children, ensuring a future of safety and opportunity for generations to come.
Samly was a woman of disciplined devotion. Every morning at 3:00 AM, long before the sun rose, she could be found awake and praying. Her faith was her compass; she made regular offerings and traveled several times a year to Vegas to visit her beloved monk, Thanh Pa Aajan, to pray for her family. Remarkably, she would recite the names of every one of her 11 children and 29 grandchildren in her prayers, carrying each of them in her spirit daily.
Though she spoke Lao and Thai, Samly’s most powerful language was one that required no translation: her cooking. Her kitchen was the heart of the home, always filled with the scents of fresh lime, papaya salad, Lao sausages, and her signature catfish larb pa.
Beyond her kitchen, Samly was the life of every celebration. Known for her love of dancing and her infectious laughter, she was a fixture in her community. It was said that if there were five parties in one day, Samly would find a way to attend all five.
Samly was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Soutsamone Sovidaray, and is now reunited with her one and only true love. She is survived by her younger sister, Darany Vilayphone, and her 11 children: Saythaya (Kee) Sovidaray, Sinthayout (Dave) Souydalay, Diane (Thim) Sovidaray, Sue (Lo) Pack, Satsady (Choy) Sovidaray, Malichanh (Maly) Srioudom, Vannaly (Naly) Lowder, Mike (Kilong) Sovidaray, Sue (Lek) Duong, Nalyphone (Noi) Yoshino, and Tony (KeyLa) Sovidaray. Her legacy further lives on through her 29 grandchildren.
She will be remembered for her kindness, for her devotion, and for being the "glue" that held her family together.
A traditional service celebrating Samly’s life was held on February 21, 2026 at Greenwood Memorial Park.
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