Kong Bouakham

June 7, 1925 - July 13, 2019

Kong Bouakham, 94, of Elizabethtown passed away Saturday, July 13, 2019 at her residence. Kong was born on June 7, 1925 in Pakse, Laos to Phan and Noukao Phanbandith. Kong, her late husband, Sythat and some of their children lived through the Vietnam war and the Laotian Civil War also known as the Secret War. Living in Laos was tough, it's a third world country, they knew they wanted a better future not only for themselves but for their children, therefore, they escaped. In the early 1980's they risked their lives, secretly swam across the Mekong river in the middle of the night to Thailand. Thailands Immigration Center was where they had to apply to come to the United States. Once the INS in Thailand approved them, they then had to travel to the Philippines to the Processing Center in order to officially start their journey. She and her family lived in the Philippines at the PRPC Refugee Camp in Morong Bataan for quite sometime until they were able to finalize their paperwork, get their passports, visas/green card in order to come to the United States legally. In 1986 Kong came to the United States with her daughter, Kinnalone Bouakham, son, Inpone Tommy Bouakham, goddaughter, Boualone (Chanthalath) Niravong, and her granddaughter, Thue (Bouakham) Ignacio. Her late husband, two sons, and godchildren later followed to unite with them. Kong was a stay-at-home mom and loved to garden. She enjoyed playing card games, knitting, doing various arts and crafts, traveling, spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and especially her dog, Peanut. She was preceded in death by her parents, Phan and Noukao Phanbandith; her loving husband, Sythat Bouakham; their six children Sysavath, Chamsamone, Bounsone, Khammone, Sakhone, and Khambone Bouakham; and their godson, Sythone Phanbandith. She is survived by her children, Katamphone (Tom) Senamontry of Elizabethtown, Daovone (Boua) Bouakham of Elizabethtown, Kinnalone (Sourideth) Douangboupha-Bouakham of Nashville, Tennessee, Nouphone (Soutsada) Bouakham of Smyrna, Tennessee, Inpone Tommy (Lattana) Bouakham of Shepherdsville, Kentucky, Keoudone (Nouin) Bouakham of Pakse, Laos, Sinnasone (Saiy) Bouakham of Salavan, Laos, granddaughter that she raised, Thue Ignacio of Elizabethtown; her godchildren, David (Phouvang) Phanbandith of Elizabethtown, Boualone (John) Niravong of Louisville, Kentucky, Khanthaly (Virasack) Souksavong of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Ti (Chan Makavahn) Khounkham of Shepherdsville, Kentucky; her grandchildren, and great grandchildren. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at Manakee Funeral Home in Elizabethtown followed by cremation service. Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m to 1 p.m Saturday at the funeral home. There will be a three-day Traditional Lao blessing at her residence starting Thursday, July 18. The Traditional Lao Service (Thak Baht) will be held at 10 a.m on Sunday, July 21, also at her residence in Elizabethtown.