Help us lay our parents Chom and Ploun Mak to rest
Our beloved father, Chom Mak lost his battle with COVID on July 27, 2021. Chom was a wonderful father and friend who touched the lives of those around him. He leaves behind his 8 children, many grandchildren, and his wife Ploun Mak who is currently fighting her own battle with COVID in the ICU at Memorial Medical Center.
Chom was in a previous marriage in Cambodia and had 3 children before he met Ploun. In Cambodia, he was once a teacher and handyman. He had many hobbies, but his favorite hobby was fishing and being by the water. Chom and Ploun met each other and fled Cambodia in the 1980’s from the Cambodian Genocide in order to find a better life here in the U.S. They built a beautiful life together and share 5 children: Kim, Sam, Samedi, Patty, and Dara. If you have ever met anyone in the Mak family, you know that they always welcome everyone with open arms. Chom dedicated his life to his wife Ploun and their family right until the end. He made sure their family never struggled or saw any hardship no matter what the cost was for him, and we can see the fruits of his labor in the wonderful kids he raised into adulthood.
As you can imagine, this is an extremely difficult time for the Mak Siblings as they grieve the loss of their father while praying and hoping for a miracle for their mother.
We are all devastated by Chom’s loss and were not prepared for the high cost of a funeral service. We want to give Chom the memorial he deserves, to honor his memory and say our last goodbyes. As we know, funerals are much more than just a service. They entail hosting and feeding family for extended periods, alms to the temple who will assist in the ceremony, regalia for those who choose to pay tribute through ordination as a monk or nun, and of course the cost of the service and cremation itself. Any little bit helps to make this impossible time a little more bearable.
We are currently asking for donations to help cover the cost of Chom’s funeral expenses. We need to raise expenses by August 6, 2021, to be able to afford the funeral service. Please consider donating, as any amount will truly help the family navigate this difficult time.
Thank you so much for donating and/or helping us spread the word!
Lita Sysamouth
****EDIT POST****
It breaks our hearts to send this update, but our beloved mother Ploun joined her husband in heaven on July 29th, 2021. She was born in Cambodia on January 8, 1953. She came along with Chom to the United States where they started a new happy life together. Chom and Ploun are the true definition of real love. If you have ever been to the Mak residence, you will know how much love mom had for everyone. She always welcomed everyone with open arms and made sure everyone had a warm cooked meal to eat and also pack to take home to their families. Everyone loved all of her cooking that she poured her heart into. She was such a selfless person and always thought about others before herself. Even in her 60's, she lived her life as if she was still 21; just having fun. Ploun enjoyed spending time with her family, friends and especially her grandchildren. They were her everything. On her spare time, she would go on adventurous trips trying to catch anything in the water so that she can come back and share it with everyone. Like they always say, a mothers love never stops for her family; and she was a true definition of a mother.
As you can imagine, the family is deep in grief at this time, but is lifted by the generosity shown by friends and family in the last couple days. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to those who have shown love thus far.
The best way to support the Mak family at this is to continue to share this campaign so that we can at least help with the financial burden and give them space to grieve and process this time of immeasurable loss.