Stephanie “Stephy” Anh Pham was a beloved daughter, sister, niece, cousin, friend, and colleague. Born to Karen Thuy and Lang Van Pham on May 4, 1992 in Fountain Valley, CA and passed away on December 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, CA at the age of 27. Stephanie leaves behind a legacy of kindness, compassion, and generosity in the hearts of all of those who knew her. These qualities were not limited to her life; Stephanie chose to be an organ donor, and her love and generosity will live on through the lives of the organ recipients she saves.
Stephanie’s was a life of overwhelming love, kindness, and generosity. From a young age, Stephanie dedicated her life to others. Whether it was listening to a friend in need, giving a pep talk, helping a classmate with their work, spoiling Ollie (her dog) with kisses and treats, saving the last bite of food for her sister, or calling her parents everyday to tell them she loved them, Stephanie never hesitated to put the needs of others before her own.
Everyone that knew Stephanie was a recipient of her love, but there was one group she loved in particular, babies. As a toddler, Stephanie would drag her older sister Annie to every possible friend’s birthday party or family gathering in the hopes that there would be a baby there to play with. That love of babies continued through adulthood, Stephanie was set to begin her OB-GYN residency after graduating from UCLA Medical School, and make a career out of bringing life into this world.
During medical school, Stephanie’s hard work and intelligence led to her being one of the top performers in her class and receiving honors in almost all of her rotations. Despite how seriously Stephanie took her academic career, she was always generous with her time. All of Stephanie’s friends knew to come to her when they needed help with anything, because Stephy would never hesitate to drop whatever she was doing to help someone in need.
Stephanie was known for her bright smile and beautiful spirit that would light up any room, under any circumstance. Everyone that had the pleasure of knowing Stephanie has a story about how her infectious humor, positivity, and energy could turn even the most mundane activities into a joyous occasion that will be remembered fondly forever.
Stephanie is survived by her sister Annie, her mother Karen, her father Lang, and her dog Ollie. To share a memory of Stephanie or offer condolences to the family, please send an email to [email protected].
Although our time with Stephanie was cut painfully short, she would not want anyone to hold on to anger, bitterness, or regret; but rather live a life as she did. A life full of love, gratitude, and joy. Below is an excerpt from Stephanie’s journal from June 21, 2016:
I challenge myself to…
● open my heart, open my mind, and open my eyes
● dive into the thoughts that I dare not think
● feel the things that I dare not feel
● see the things that I might otherwise neglect
● be fearless
● be opinionated and transcend the “norm”
● stand for what is important to me, ALWAYS
● let the light in my soul shine
● radiate love, kindness, & powerful positive energy
● contribute positively to the world & everyone & everything in it
● escape the ordinary, be extraordinary
More than anything, Stephanie wanted to take care of those around her and see them flourish. Please follow Stephanie’s example, take care of yourselves and all of those around you.
A celebration of life for Stephanie will be held Saturday, January 18, 2020 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Westminster Memorial Park Lakeside Chapel with a graveside service to follow. Arrangements under the direction of Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Blvd. Westminster, CA 92683. (714) 893-2421
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