Kimberly Lyhak

After surviving the Khmer Rouge regime and reluctantly leaving her beloved country with her surviving family members, Kim arrived in America in 1981 with her husband and two daughters. Settling into Stockton, California, she worked as a waitress at local doughnut shops and attended the community college. She often brought home scratch paper from her classes for her daughters, urging them to write, draw, and create. It was a treat they all looked forward to.

Kim moved often, in search of a comfortable home for her family. She lived in many neighborhoods all over California and made many friends. Anyone who knew her or had the chance to speak with her for just a moment would tell you how friendly and funny she was. She was the kind of neighbor you read about in fiction novels. That sweet lady pruning her rose bushes and tending to her orange tree. She offered rides to children walking to school on rainy days or to women walking home with bags of groceries. She often sent her daughters to their friends' houses with homemade treats during the holidays. (She made the best mini egg-rolls.) Her laughter was addicting and was sprinkled generously throughout every story she told. Like stories about her rebellious tomboy antics back in Cambodia as a young girl. Have you heard the one about the time she was running around barefoot and stepped on a rusty old nail? The way she told the story, you would have believed that nail gave her superpowers. Maybe it did...because, boy, was she a tough lady.

She left us two weeks before Mother's Day. She slipped away after holding on long enough to let her family say goodbye. We said the things we'd always wished we had, the things she deserved to hear. Any forgotten messages will have to wait until we meet again in our next lifetimes. She leaves behind her parents, husband, four daughters, four grandchildren, and countless family and friends all over the world. Happy Eternal Mother's Day, Mak. We love you.

Kimberly Lyhak passed away on a breezy Sunday afternoon on April 29th, 2018, at 12:55pm...peacefully, in a hospital bed in Hemet, California.