Phetdara "Kai" (Phannavong) Manivong, age 50, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at Inova Loudoun Hospital in Lansdowne, Virginia after a valiant fight against Goodpasture syndrome. She was born on April 17, 1968, in Vientiane, Laos to Khampheuy and Phetsamone (Luangrath) Phannavong. Kai was an accomplished athlete, and by the age of 15 she was playing at the professional level. In 1981, she represented Laos at the youth games in Czechoslovakia, where she participated in track and field events and medaled in table tennis. After graduating from Vientiane High School, she represented the Lao PDR Ministry of Education in volleyball competitions throughout the country while matriculated as a French major at the National University of Laos. She immigrated to the United States with her husband in 1992 in search of better opportunities.

Kai was as a hard worker with a quick wit, a ready laugh, and a zest for life. As a creative chef who had mastered the classics of Lao and Thai cuisine, she skillfully adapted these dishes to meet American tastes and built a loyal fanbase of diners at restaurants in Washington, DC and Connecticut. As a strong proponent of education who learned at the hand of her family in Laos, she generously transferred her knowledge to the next generation of chefs in America. She will be remembered for selflessly making great sacrifices to ensure her family's welfare.

She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Phanmany "Tui" and son, Phetanutphone "Max" Manivong; brothers, Sinasonh "Khao" and Phetmano "Pong" Phannavong; sister-in-law, Sabrina Lemoine and brother-in-law, Andrew Druliner; niece, Léa Phannavong Lemoine and a large number of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Family, friends, and others whose lives Kai touched are invited to the Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg at 201 Edwards Ferry Road NE, Leesburg, VA 20176, on Saturday, December 29, 2018, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm to reminisce and celebrate her life.

The Manivong and Phannavong family would like to extend our gratitude to all the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals at the Inova Loudoun and Inova Fairfax Hospitals and at DaVita Sterling Dialysis for their attentiveness and loving care.