Thiet Xuan Pham

We pay tribute to the memory of our father, born in Vietnam on October 11, 1955. Everyone knew dad was a fighter; he never gave up once he set his mind to something. I remember stories he used to tell us about coming to America. Leaving his home in the middle of the night with mom, my brother and I getting on a small & crowded boat; drifting for days with little food & water in search of opportunity.

In 1981, he started to build a new home for us here with no English & little money, but he managed scrape enough money to open his own business. For 20+ years, I remember my parents working countless hours to make sure we did not go without. He was smart, successful, and well respected. He was a man of a few words, tough but fair. We knew he loved us the best way he knew how. Dad wanted us to have a good education, taught us to be kind and made sure we had a better life than his own.

He was always a fighter even when battling cancer for nearly 3 years...never once complained about the pain. He didn’t want to be a burden on anyone. On August 1, 2023, he lost that fight…and cancer stole a life too early. A moment in life does not define a person, it is what he does in a lifetime that defines him. There aren't enough words to describe what dad has done for us. He was a devoted husband and father; he is survived by my mom, my brother and I. Dad has reunited with our sister (Nhu)…they are now together in a better place. I know he continues to watch over us now and until we can meet again...

A funeral service for Thiet will be held Monday, August 21, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Eternal Hills Mortuary Chapel, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, California 92054. Following the funeral service will be a buddhist service from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Tu Vien Tuong Van, 630 N. Midway Drive, Escondido, CA 92027.

Thiet will be laid to rest in Eternal Hills Memorial Park, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, California 92054.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eternalhillsmortuary.com for the Pham family.