Obituary of Gonggi X. Thao

Gonggi Xiong Thao, 49, passed away at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula on October 12, 2013, with her family by her side in Monterey, California. Gonggi is survived by her husband Dr. Paoze Thao, and four children, Tou Thongteng, Gaozong, Chee-Ah, and Alexander. She was born in Laos on September 8, 1964 to Blia Zai Xiong and Lucha Xiong. Her father was a cinema projectionist for the United States Agency for International Development (US AID), known as "Xiong Zai, the cinema man," and her mother was a homemaker. The entire Xiong family arrived in the United States as Hmong refugees from Laos on June 28, 1976 after the Vietnam War. Gonggi and Paoze Thao met in Chicago in 1979 and got married in Decorah, Iowa. After their marriage, they returned to Chicago. She graduated from Von Steuben High School and later studied Accounting at the First Business School in Chicago. Gonggi worked in the Accounting Department of Portola Hotel & Spa for 18 years. Gonggi loved spending time with her family, cooking gourmet Hmong cuisine, and gardening. She devoted much of her time and energy caring for her family. By her nature, she was a perfectionist in everything she did and worked very hard to achieve her goals in life. Always true in her heart, she was the Thao family's North Star. She guided her family through their everyday life challenges. Gonggi has remained loved by everyone because of her kind heart, loving nature, and compassion for all people, especially those in need. Along with her family, she was a member of the Hmong Alliance Church of Merced. A Memorial Fund is set up in her name "Gonggi X. Thao Memorial Fund" at Wells Fargo Bank. A portion of these donations will be given to orphans in need in Laos. Memorial services are held at the Mission Mortuary on October 26-27, 2013 in Monterey, California. She will be put to rest at the City of Monterey El Encinal Cemetery on October 28, 2013.