Sina Pho

She was born on August 17, 1937 in Khum Ko Hey, Srok Mukh Kampul, Kandal Providence, Cambodia to her father, Huor Pho, and her mother, Chit Nay. She grew up with one older sister and one younger brother.

She was an intelligent and accomplished woman, completing her Khmer college degree, volunteering with the Red Cross in Cambodia, and speaking several languages. At 19-years-old, she married her husband, Lao Hoc Siv, and supported him as he became a Colonel in the Khmer Army. She was proud of her brother for becoming a Lieutenant in the Khmer Air Force, and as recently as 2025, she was ecstatic to celebrate her second grandson’s achievement of reaching 2nd Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps.

She overcame many tragedies at a young age, losing her parents during the Khmer Rouge regime and becoming a widow when her husband died fighting in the war. She raised her six young children on her own during the Khmer Rouge, keeping them safe while traveling across minefields and through jungles to get to refuge along the border between Cambodia and Thailand.

After her brother brought her and her children to the United States as refugees, she created new roots in the Oregon Cambodian community. She raised her children to work hard and pursue their university education, continuing her family’s legacy of success and independence that she felt so proud of. She became a prominent supporter of the Oregon Cambodian Buddhist temple, Watt Dhammarangsey, as well as the network of Buddhist temples in Cambodia, and she instilled the same committed involvement in her children. She cared for others with a big heart, often donating money to those in need, including to Red Cross causes, to the local and international Cambodian communities, and to others she encountered in her daily life.

Her family was paramount to her throughout her life. She made sure to pass on cultural traditions and her skills to her children and grandchildren. She was skilled in fiber arts and crocheted, knitted, and cross-stitched intricate pieces of artwork to decorate her family home and gift to her family members. She enjoyed watching action movies and going to the movie theaters with her family. She took pleasure in nurturing her plants and watching families of birds in her yard. She loved to travel with her family, celebrate her grandchildren’s accomplishments, and enjoy delicious food surrounded by her loved ones.

Sina Pho is survived by her six children, seven grandchildren, her brother, and her brother’s family. She will be deeply missed, and her love and memory will live on forever in our hearts.

Her Legacy Lives on Through…

Her Children and Their Spouses

Mony Lao & Simary Sam

Leaksmey Lao

Sophanna Lao

Chakriya Lao-Thammasouk & Khamvong Thammasouk

Pisey Lao

Vattey Lao & Jeremie Dalton

Her Grandchildren

Monica Lao

Andrew Lao

William Thammasouk

Alexis Thammasouk

Reangsey Dalton

Vattanak Dalton

Seyla Dalton

Her Brother

Nicholas Pho

Memorial Service

May 8th to May 10th, 2026

Watt Dhammarangsey

19940 Southwest Stafford Road

West Linn, OR 97068

May 10th @ 2PM

Finley-Sunset Hills Mortuary

6801 Southwest Sunset Highway

Portland, OR 97225