Saret Tourn

7/7/1957-12/27/2025

Hello everyone! My name is Mary Sok. I am the niece of Saret Tourn, who passed away on December 27, 2025 (his only son’s birthday). I have been (alongside my aunt & cousin) by his side as he fought against liver failure in the last year of his life. I am creating this GoFundMe per the request of his son, Chankreas Sourm. All proceeds will go to his wife, son, funeral expenses, and to assist with living expenses without their main breadwinner. Thank you for your support.

Khmer Rouge Genocide Survivor From 1975-1979, the Communist Party of Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge) ruled Cambodia and was responsible for one of the worst mass killings of the 20th Century, killing over 2 millions Cambodians. When the war ended, my uncle escaped to America.

Long Beach, CA In the early 1980s, my uncle settled in the USA with his parents: Sourm Tourn (father, deceased) and Yem Meas (mother, deceased), and his five siblings: Kiry Tourn (my mom), Sarun Tourn (deceased), Bounly Tourn, Chantou Tourn, and Chanty Tourn (deceased). He started life in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he met his wife, Vantha Orng. They settled in Long Beach, California where his family all resided and they had a son, Chankreas Sourm in 1990.

Ford Mustang My uncle was a muralisted, metal worker, and a diehard Mustang enthusiast. He purchased his Mustang in the late 1980s and it has been his baby since. He finally got his mustang painted a burgundy color (original color) in October 2024 and drove it a few times until he fell ill in December 2024. In January 2025, his frequent hospitalization visits began as his health began to drastically decline.

The Battle Roughly about 20 years ago, my uncle was diagnosed with hepatitis B. It was not until January of this year when he started having side effects. He was diagnosed with liver failure and cirrhosis, which distended his abdomen and affected his health as he was losing appetite, became weaker, and unable to drive his beloved Ford Mustang. The past few months were trips back and forth to the hospital to remove the liquid that accumulated in his abdomen. In the end, he had multiple organ failure as his kidneys were effected, then his last two weeks, his brain failed, and finally in the end, his heart. My uncle was a fighter and said, “I’m ok. I’m fine” until the end.

Content As a Buddhist, my uncle left the world with a happy heart knowing he was a devout Buddhist and he donated to many. He was ready to go. He wanted to leave the world at home where he can pray until his last days and eat the food he wanted. Driving on the Thomas Jefferson bridge, going home after being discharged from Little Providence Company of San Pedro, he was ready to leave in “2-3 days” and said he craved pizza. Immediately, after I dropped him off at home, I picked up a box of pizza from Little Cesar’s for him. When he was back at St. Mary’s Hospital, he wanted to come home because he was tired of eating hospital food. I brought him food I asked my mom to make: rice porridge and salted sundried mud carp (trei ngeit) “from Cambodia or Vietnam)

”. He specifically asked it not be from Thailand because of the current Cambodia Thailand conflict. It was satisfying to watch quickly feed 4 spoonfuls into his mouth. He reminded me of a kid who finally got to eat chocolate…simply happy and satisfied. His final requests were plum (out of season), strawberry yogurt, strawberry flavored Ensure, “10 cans of sardines”, and Ritz crackers. I remember the last days before he was admitted back to St. Mary’s, he asked me to buy a purse for his wife, 10 white bath towels, a new mattress for his wife, sour soup from Riverside market for my mom, and rotisserie chicken for me from Costco. He was content til the end.

By your side Although he is longer here, I am happy to know that he didn’t fight this battle alone. I made sure I was at his hospital side daily, sometimes with his wife, son, and my little trooper Bella. During my visits, he would ask about Bella and told me that he was fine and don’t be late to pick up Bella from school. I had him speak to his siblings, knowing any one of these days could be their last conversation with him. I know they will cherish these last moments with him.

Goodbye Po (uncle) Ret, you are no longer here, but I know you are happy and you are smiling as you proudly observe us. We love you and now you’re reunited with tha thort (great grandpa) & yea thort (great grandma). We will always love you & I will be there for your wife and son the best I can.

I want to thank the Dr. Jauregui’s team at St Mary’s hospital and the amazing doctors and nurses at both Providence Little Company of San Pedro and St. Mary’s hospital for their guidance, compassion, and support. I want to thank Abraham from Haven’s Health for driving in the storm on Christmas Eve searching for a hospice facility for my uncle on.

Date of service: TBA