Douangchai Seneyavong was born on November 29, 1944 in Paksun, Laos. She fled her war-torn communist country with the dream of providing a better life for her children. She was sponsored by St. Rita’s Catholic Church and immigrated with her three young children to Castlegar, Canada in 1984. A devout Catholic, Douangchai enjoyed volunteering at her church, especially beautifying it with garden grown flower arrangements. She will be remembered by her parish and community as one of the kindest and most sincere women they ever came across. She was the matriarch and center of her children’s existence and the glue that held her large extended family together. Her love for humanity was endless, powerful enough to still be felt without her physical presence. She is survived by her 3 children, Viengvilay, 35, Chantavong, 32, and Hongtong, 29, and her grandson, Tyce-Jacob, 3. Her last few years were filled with joy, being the primary caregiver of her grandson, and were full of snuggles and kisses.
Douangchai’s love for her family gave her the will and strength to be with them for two extra precious months after being a 1 in 100 survivor of a stroke in December, 2011. A miracle was witnessed, but God needed his angel home. Douangchai passed away in Vancouver on March 3, 2012, surrounded by her enormous family, and will forever be missed. A service will be held for parish and community members who would like to pay their respects on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 10:30 am at
St. Rita’s Catholic