Em Derng

Mrs. Em Derng, born on May 15, 1931 in Aek Phnum District, Battambang, Cambodia. A beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, and cherished matriarch of our family, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the age of 95.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, Lach Derng, who passed away in 1996 at the age of 73.

She leaves behind her beloved daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family, all of whom will forever hold her close in their hearts. Though her presence will be deeply missed, the memories she created, the lessons she shared, and the love she gave will continue to live on through generations.

A Life Filled with Love

She was the heart and foundation of her family—a woman of grace, strength, resilience, and unconditional love. Affectionately known as “Yeay” (Grandma), she was the life of every gathering, bringing joy, laughter, and warmth wherever she went.

More than that, she was the heart of our family, whose love and presence brought generations together. Her kindness, generosity, and vibrant spirit touched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Lovingly Remembered by her Children

She is lovingly remembered by her children:

Saing (deceased at age 76); Sem; Vy (deceased at age 66); Savon (deceased at age 65), and her husband, Savorn Keo; Saven (deceased at age 3); Savoeuth; Saverng; Kimberly “Mao”; Sarah “Seap,” and her husband, Maurice; and Malina “Savorn,” and her husband, Sennedy Yon; Bunchen (deceased at age 8) and Bunroeun (deceased at age 6).

Cherished by Her Grandchildren

Affectionately called “Yeay” by her grandchildren, she leaves behind:

Buna (wife, Samantha); Salica “Ry” (husband, Peter); Socheat; Tane; Chany (husband, Roland); Chana (husband, Saran); Vutha (wife, Horn); Poy (wife, Khemroun); Vuthy; Stacy; Terry; Serei; Savunn; Cindy; Vesal (wife, Eileen); Linda; Nancy (husband, Arvin); Savuth (wife, Lackinna); Vannath (husband, Verak); Sothear (deceased); Lisa; Monica; Jennifer, Peseth; Jessica; Ricky; Julie; Elena; and many other grandchildren in Cambodia and through marriage.

A Loving Legacy Through Her Great-Grandchildren

Her love and legacy continue through her many cherished great-grandchildren:

Savanna, Anita, Brandon, Alec, Monique, Ethan, Kaitlyn, Kaylee, Kira, Kamron, Trust, Rain, Devontae, Donovan, Daniel, Leila, Sylis, Honesti, Lyla, Miyumi, Miyuko, Miyuri, Grayson, Elias, Zoey, Jade, Jaylin, Khaiven, Kyani, Kalliyah, Ariel, Gabriella, Alex Jr., Vanvera, VannaLee, Van-Marie, Stephan, Evan, Donavee, Levoni, Selavee, Francesca, Jasmine, Lucas, Mila, Amaya, Isis, Lilly, Romeo, Max, and many other great-grandchildren in Cambodia and through marriage.

A Journey of Courage and Resilience

As a survivor of the Cambodian Killing Fields, “Yeay” Derng endured unimaginable hardships throughout her life. Her journey was one of extraordinary courage, perseverance, and strength.

Despite the challenges and hardships she faced, she carried herself with warmth and compassion. Her resilience and determination allowed her to build a life centered on family, love, and togetherness. Her story is a reflection of the enduring strength and spirit of the Cambodian people.

A Cherished Member of the Cambodian Community

“Yeay” Derng was also a cherished member of the Cambodian community and a former client of the Senior In-Home Services Program at the Cambodian Association of Illinois (CAI).

Her passing was deeply felt by the organization, which recognized her life, her connections, and the meaningful relationships she built within the community. She will be remembered as part of the community she called home and the people whose lives she touched.

Forever in Our Hearts

“Yeay” Derng’s life was a testament to the strength of family, the power of perseverance, and the enduring beauty of love. Her legacy will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

She was more than a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was our Queen, our family's heart, and a love that will never fade.

Though we must say goodbye, her love will continue to guide us, her laughter will forever echo in our memories, and her legacy will live on through every generation.

May she rest peacefully in eternal peace.

Eulogy

Nancy:

I have too many wonderful memories to choose just one, but the memory that stands out most from my childhood is being taught Buddhist chants "Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa" by her and Grandpa every morning and night. This was a tradition she instilled in me from the time I was barely able to speak.

Although I didn’t understand the meaning behind the words when I was young, I knew that chanting them gave me courage. As I grew older, whenever I had to walk through a dark basement, down a quiet alley, or along a dark street, I would recite those words in my mind. I could almost hear both of their voices reminding me to be brave and reassuring me that I was protected.

What began as a childhood routine became so much more than just a chant. Those words became a source of comfort, strength, and encouragement—a sense of protection that I carried with me wherever I went. Looking back, I realize that they weren’t just teaching me prayers; they were giving me something I would carry throughout my life: faith, courage, and the reassurance that I was never alone.

Tane:

When I think back on my childhood memories with Grandma, I wish I could recall more of the little moments we shared. For some reason, most of my childhood memories seem to revolve around Grandpa. But there is one memory with Grandma that has always stuck with me.

I remember how I would always sing for Grandpa, and Grandma would never hesitate to tease me, saying in Khmer “Tlong Na!’(I was being too noisy). That was just her way of showing her personality, and looking back, I can laugh at those little moments. Sometimes, it’s the simplest memories that leave the biggest impression.

I also know that moving away at such a young age meant I didn’t get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked. Although I may not have as many childhood memories to share, the few I do have are still meaningful to me. And sometimes, even the smallest memories become the ones we carry with us the longest.

Socheat ‘Dan’:

One memory that I will always cherish is how much grandma loved getting massages from me. Growing up, I would usually give Grandpa massages, so it was always a little different when Grandma wanted one.

I remember this one particular night when I was living with my aunt, which whom grandma was living with. I had just gotten home from work, probably around 8:30 p.m., which was my usual time. Grandma wasn’t feeling too well that day and was feeling sore, so I offered to give her a massage. I hadn’t even changed out of my work clothes yet.

I started rubbing her feet and calves, and before I knew it, time just kept passing. She would close her eyes, occasionally open them, and then drift back into that peaceful feeling. The thing was, she never once told me to stop, so I just kept going. I remember looking at the clock and realizing it was already past 10 p.m. My aunt had noticed it too and couldn’t believe how long I had been massaging Grandma.

At that point, my aunt literally had to shake Grandma awake and jokingly scold her, saying, “Why didn’t you tell your grandkid to stop? You just want to feel good!” LOL.

By then, I had actually developed a terrible migraine and eventually got sick from overdoing it. But honestly, I didn’t want to stop or wake Grandma because I could see how much she was enjoying herself. Seeing the look of happiness and contentment on her face made it all worth it in that moment.

Looking back, I think that’s what makes this memory so special to me. It wasn’t just about giving her a massage. It was about being able to do something that brought her comfort and happiness. Even though I ended up paying for it with a migraine, I wouldn’t trade that memory for anything.

Sometimes, love is found in the simplest acts of care, and that night, I was just happy to make Grandma feel good.

Thank you all once again for being here to honor and celebrate ‘Yeay’ Derng’s life. Before you leave, please take a moment to enjoy some of her favorite snacks. We know ‘Yeay’ would have loved to share the things she enjoyed with all of you.

Visitation will be held Saturday, November 14, from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm at Malec & Sons Funeral Home, 6000 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646. A Buddhist prayer ceremony will begin at the same venue at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions can be made via Zelle to: Malina Derng at [email protected] (memo: In Memory of Grandma Em).