In Loving Memory of Paja Maichu Xiong (Paj Ntsa)

It is with broken hearts that we share the sudden passing of Paja (Paj Ntsa) Maichu Xiong. She was only 35 years old.

Paja was stubborn in the best way. She was fiercely independent and committed to living life on her own terms. She loved to travel, listen to K-pop, meeting her idols, and getting her nails and lashes done. But more than anything, she loved flowers. Flowers were her life.

Her grandparents and parents, grew flowers in Carnation, Washington, and were among the Hmong families who sold at Pike Place in Seattle. Flowers were more than work, Paja saw them as part of her family's heritage. Paj Ntsa carried that legacy forward, and when she moved to Minnesota, she started work as the floral manager at Hy-Vee. She had a gift for bringing beauty into everyday spaces and took pride in her craft.

She is survived by her parents, Nomroos and Maika; her three younger brothers, Txawj Zoo, Joey, and Dave; sister-in law (nyab), Jouapag; and the two little ones who meant the world to her — her niece Daylia (4) and nephew Keng (7). She loved being the only Phauj (paternal auntie) and delighted in spoiling them with toys, snacks, and small surprises.

As her nyab, I had the privilege of witnessing her deep love for family and her quiet strength. Her loss has left us heartbroken and in shock.

As doctors worked to save Paja’s life, we learned more about what had been happening quietly in her body. She experienced a hemorrhagic stroke — a blood vessel in her brain burst and caused bleeding. In those urgent moments, doctors also discovered that she had long-standing high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes.

These conditions can live silently for years. They often do not cause obvious symptoms. You can feel fine, young, busy with life, and not know anything is wrong.

We share this not only in grief, but in hope. High blood pressure and diabetes are common in many Asian communities, especially Hmong families. Too often, we find out too late. Paja was only 35. This is not just a message for our elders. It is for our young people too. Please know your numbers. Please make the appointment. Please take your health seriously.

Our family is setting up this fund to honor an important Hmong tradition known as tshav ntuj— often translated as “sunshine money.” In Hmong culture, when a loved one passes, community members and family often give monetary gifts to the grieving family. This act is not just financial support; it is a way of standing with the family in their sorrow, easing the burden of funeral costs, and symbolically offering warmth and light during a dark time. Alternatives to Gofundme if you prefer:

Paypal: jouapaglee or thuzongxiong

Venmo: @jouapag-lee or @thuzong-xiong

If you feel moved to give, we are deeply grateful.

We will miss Paja forever. Her love for beauty, her independent spirit, and her deep roots in flowers will always live on through us.