Rabieb Vilayhong Roy

Rabieb Vilayhong Roy, 68, of Springfield, passed away at 3:33 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at St. John's Hospital. Rabieb was born March 15, 1943 in Vientiane, Laos, the daughter of Bol and Pon Vilayhong Sithepubol. She married Chavang Vilayhong in 1968 in Laos and he preceded her in death in 1979. She later married Ronald L. Roy on March 15, 1992 in the State of Illinois Senate Chambers. Rabieb was a graduate of Chicago University where she received her bachelor's degree in Nursing. She also received her master's degree in Public Administration from MacMurray College. In 2003, she retired from the Department of Public Health where she worked in the Director's office. Rabieb was a nurse during the secret war in Laos and served on the front line supporting the Lao Army. She created the Illinois Department of Public Health Refugee Program and was a member of the Mekong Association. She was a big supporter of the Republican Party and was one of two people that drafted the non-smoking law in Illinois. Rabieb's passion was assisting refugees and supporting the Lao Buddhist Temple in Chicago. She is a Princess of the Royal Family of Laos. She was also preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Pid Sithepubol. She is survived by her husband, Ronald L. Roy of Springfield; one son, Troy (wife, Brenda) Vilayhong of Springfield; one daughter, Elizabeth (husband, Bob) Knox of New Berlin; three step-daughters, Suzanne (husband, Rich) McGill of Springfield; Ronda Roy of Springfield and Rachel (husband, David) Stocker of Chapin; two grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; brothers, Sam Sithepubol, Did Sithepubol and Kid Sithepubol, all of Bangkok, Thailand and Somkith (wife, Baukaeun) Vilayhong of Bartlett; two sisters, Ting Vilayhong of Bangkok, Thailand and Vichita Briseno of Orlando, FL; and two cousins, Souli and Sayfonlt Sullivan, both of St. Charles, MO. Visitation: Family will receive friends from 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the family home, 1713 S. Buhr Mill Court, Springfield. Funeral Ceremony: A private family ceremony will be held at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to: Wat Dhammaram Thai Buddhist Temple of Chicago, 7059 W. 75th St., Chicago, IL 60638.