It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our mom, Kim-Lien Pham—a beloved mother, sister, aunt, wife, grandmother, surrogate fairy godmother, connector of families, lover of emojis, and friend—passed peacefully in Los Gatos, California, on the morning of February 2, 2026, with her family by her side.

Born February 13, 1942 in Vinh, Vietnam, she spent most of her adult life in the United States after fleeing Saigon whilst pregnant in the spring of 1975. Her story—like so many refugee stories of the Vietnamese diaspora—was built on resilience, connection, and an unshakeable love for her family (and yes, that includes the “extended” kind you don’t technically have to feed, but do anyway).

Kim-Lien is survived by her husband, Han, and her children, Catheryne, Huy, and Phuong Anh (and Paul). She was also a proud grandmother to four grandsons: Josh, Nick, Kevan, and Ryan.

Her professional life reflected the same heart she brought to everything else. For more than 25 years, she served as a social worker for Santa Clara County, dedicating her career to helping children and families. She did that work with quiet strength, deep patience, and a steady kind of compassion that never asked for applause.

And then there were her joys—many of them small, all of them memorable. She loved food in the way only our mom could: a bowl of bún riêu, salty In-N-Out fries, the fruit-of-the-day while backpacking in southeast Asia, and basically anything her kids were willing to sit down and eat with her. Her fried tofu with fish sauce (sometimes fermented shrimp paste—mắm tôm—if we were lucky) and green onions deserves its own memorial. And if life hurt in any way, she had a single prescription: ginger (in all its forms).

Her music tastes had range: Nat King Cole, Andrea Bocelli, big band classics, and—because she contained multitudes—even Hank Williams. She loved impressionist art, and she found calm in sewing, knitting, crocheting, Sudoku, and long walks—especially along the Huntington Beach Pier with her sisters. She loved traveling.  Vietnam, Hawaii, Mexico, and Europe were among her favorite far off places. Closer to home, she simply loved the ocean and the peace it brought.

If you met our mom, you felt it right away: her sweetness, her warmth, her unwavering care. She was kind and supportive in a way that made people feel safe. She was also strong—and, yes, sometimes stubborn—qualities that helped her leave Vietnam and build a new life in the U.S. The lessons she lived were simple and clear: be the glue, honor special moments, be polite, and on occasion, be silly.

Her proudest accomplishments and greatest joys were her children and grandchildren. Her words. She didn’t just build a family—she built a home. Over and over again. Her legacy is one of resilience, rebirth, and connection. The love she gave will keep moving through all of us, for a long time. 

Every ending is a new beginning.

We invite you to join us in celebrating our mom's life at either of two services. 

February 13, 2026 (her birthday) at 10:00 a.m. PST

Tâm Từ Metta Buddhist Temple, 610 Fisher Ave, Morgan Hill, CA

We will gather to honor her with a Buddhist funeral, light some incense, and celebrate her birthday in her way, with food and laughter.

Reception immediately following at Anh Clemens' house: 1586 Guadalajara Dr, San Jose, CA

February 22, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. PST

Chu Dieu Ngu Buddhist Temple, 14472 Chestnut Street, Westminster, CA 

After the service and lunch, we plan to head towards the ocean to scatter her ashes.

If you can join us, we’d love to have you there. If you can’t, please keep her—and our family—in your thoughts. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association https://www.alz.org/ in her name.

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