Obituary of Khiem Xai Thi Lam

Khiem Xai Thi Lam, 72, of Freehold, NJ peacefully passed away with her loving family by her side on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at Preferred Care Nursing Home in Old Bridge, NJ. Khiem was born on October 27, 1952, in Bac Lieu, Vietnam and was raised in Saigon, Vietnam. She grew up in a very large family and was the second child of fourteen children. Like many girls of her generation, she started working at a very young age and eventually learned to be a seamstress while working at a local clothing factory. In 1971, Khiem met and married her husband Luong and raised three children, Chan, Hy and Thanh. Khiem’s husband’s family owned and operated a successful general store until the Lam family and their young children fled communist Vietnam in early 1979 on a small wooden fishing boat. They landed in Hong Kong and lived in a refugee camp for 18 months, eventually immigrating to the United States and settling in Freehold, NJ in November 1980. Khiem was a strong willed and intelligent woman who worked cleaning homes and used her sewing skills to earn money to help provide for her family. She loved finding bargains and was a firm believer of ‘waste not, want not’, making sure her family had enough food to last for 100 years! She enjoyed gardening, tending to her house plants and was known for making her traditional Vietnamese egg rolls to bring to family gatherings. Khiem and Luong were married for over 50 years, were devoted to their Buddhist faith and, since both were of Chinese descent, they proudly instilled in their children the importance of carrying on their Chinese culture and traditions.

Khiem was predeceased by her husband Luong Dat Lam, and her parents Luong An Thi and Truong Tu Thanh. She is survived by her daughter Chan Lam Barski, son-in-law Charles Barski and their two children Charlie and Liya Barski of Long Valley, NJ; her son Hy (Kenny) Lam, daughter-in-law Shirley Lam and their two children Katelyn and Melanie Lam of Morganville, NJ; and her son Thanh Lam of Freehold, NJ. She is also survived by her siblings: Huy Thi of Oklahoma City, Ok., Liet Thi of Oklahoma City, OK.; Dat Thi, Anh Thi, Sang Thi, Tam Thi, Linh Thi, Suong Thi of Vietnam.

Friends and family are invited to visit on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at Freeman Funeral Home, 47 East Main Street. A private family funeral service will be held from 12:00-1:00 PM. To leave a condolence or find directions, visit www.freemanfuneralhomes.com.