Song Vang Her (N. Xauv Cawv Hawj)

Song Vang Her, 82, of Kansas City, KS, went home to be with her heavenly father on Wednesday, the 05th of AUGUST, 2026, at the University of Kansas Hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Song lived a life stitched together with faith, resilience, and quiet acts of love. She was the kind of mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to many, and her hands were always caring for others through her love of cooking, sewing, or prayer. She leaves behind a legacy of faith, resilience, cultural traditions, and strength. Her life was a testament to devotion, service, and love, expressed through her hands, her craft, and her prayers.

LEGACY -

Song was born on the 31 st of MAY, 1944, in Xiangkhouang to Ntxhais and Vaam Kaub Vaaj. She had 5 siblings – Txhaj Yig (passed), Ntsuab Pov (WI), Kab (passed) Nub (passed), and Phuab(NC).

In 1966, Song married the late Xao Cher and together they had six children, and survived by Jou Yee (Pla) of Kansas City, KS; Bla (Chonh Sue Kue) of Cowpens, SC; Pang Kou (Vang Tito Xiong) of Ruskin, FL; Mike (Kao) of Kansas City, KS; Tommy (Pang Nhia) of Overland Park, KS; and Bao Nhia (Nhia Chang Xiong) of Westminster, CO.

(14) Grandchildren - Mhink Her, Linda Her, Nancy Her, Kevin Her, Barry Her, Jennifer Her, Steven Her, Kong Mong Kue, Kong Chinh Kue, Frances Her, Alex Her, Emily Her, Jeremy Xiong, and Titus Xiong.

(27) Great-Grandchildren - Codie Her, Skyla Her, Noah Her, Nicolai Her, Eunice Her, Kenji Khang, Phillip Khang, Julianne Khang, Abigail Vang, Kaiyu Vang, Kenneth Vang, Nivek Her, Ariella Her, Crystal Vang, Eric Vang, Sarai Her, Joy Her, Joey Her, Harper Her, Jayden Vang, Jordan Arthurs, Jenevieve Arthurs, Jenesis Arthurs, Jonah Arthurs, Chasidy Her, Evan Her, and Wesley Her.

(4) Great-great-grandchildren – Evangeline Her, Catalina Her, Aizen Her, and Malikai Vang.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY -

Song worked with dedication throughout her life, taking on every role with humility, resilience, and a deep commitment to caring for her family.

In 1977-1978, she worked as a “busboy” waitress at a restaurant, in the mall, in Houston, TX, earning $2.15 per hour; a job she carried with pride as she built a new life in the United States.

From 1978-1979, she worked for an apartment complex, cleaning units after residents moved out, always approaching the work with care and thoroughness.

After moving to Kansas, she enrolled in ESL classes at Donnelly College in the early 1980s to learn English, and also attended school at St. Mary’s. She was determined to grow, adapt, and create opportunities for her family.

From 1983 – 1984, Song turned her love of gardening into her livelihood. While Grandma loved gardening and would go gardening for a living when they lived at South Mill, and gardened at South 35th – Vickie and Pam would go with her to work in her garden. As her granddaughters got older, she would take Linda and/or Nancy with her to the gardens.

After years as a stay-at-home mom and working in the gardens, she began working at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, and Hen House in 1988. During her time there, Song developed arthritis on her shoulders, arms, and hands. The pain grew so severe that her.

Obituary for Song Vang Her (N. Xauv Cawv Hawj)

husband had to comb her hair for her, ultimately forcing her into retirement in 2006. Even through the challenges, Song took immense pride and was a devoted baker at the museum’s restaurant. She took pride in making the best chocolate chip cookies, breads, and cakes - treats that carried her love in every bite.

Whether she was a stay-at-home mom or in the workforce, Song woke up early to cook breakfast every morning and would pack lunches for her children, late husband, or the many guests who frequented them. Acts of service were her love language. You knew she loved you wholeheartedly by the food she made, or by making sure you had plenty on your plate, “because she forced you to eat”; sometimes even overflowing it because SHE LOVES YOU.

SWEET MEMORIES -

Bla – My mom taught me a lot of her recipes and how to cook because I was the oldest daughter. I learned to panfish (cub ntseg) and learned how to make tofu from her. My mom also taught me how to clean the bathroom thoroughly, as this was a responsibility she handled for a long time in the restaurant business. She also taught me how to make old-fashioned kaphong broth - from frying the garlic to searing the ginger to mixing the spices, all from scratch.

Song was talented and eclectically crafty in so many ways, but her greatest gift was the way she lived her faith. Every morning and every night, she prayed - long, steady prayers that sometimes lasted so long everyone fell asleep beside her. She prayed vehemently for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and for anyone who needed covering. Song was deeply devoted to her church and to the Women’s Ministry, serving with a quiet strength and unwavering commitment. Her faith made her a true prayer warrior, lifting not only her family, but her church, community, and people she had never met.

Through Tais Nruag channel, she and her late husband prayed for individuals all over the world, offering comfort, encouragement, and spiritual support to anyone who reached out. Their prayers became a source of hope for countless people, near and far.

Shooting squirrels - Grandpa couldn’t shoot straight, so she showed him how to do it. She used a BB gun to shoot squirrels and never missed. Grandpa would shoot the squirrel with slingshots while Song dominated the BB gun.

Linda - A fond memory comes from childhood when we would visit them all the time at their house on S. Baltimore. Grandma would be sitting in her chair that grandpa made for her from the scrap wood lying around, sewing her paaj ntaub (Hmong Story Cloths), Hmong clothes, or making her dolls. Grandma always cooked amazing food, and she made sure we ATE ALL OF IT or “knucklehead sandwich” the Hmong version of “tuav taubhau”. That was her way of showing us love.

Song and her late husband had nicknames for each other; nicknames that even their children and grandchildren can recall – they would call each other, “naib nam, naib txiv; Nplas nam, Nplas txiv”. In translation: “lovely wife, lovely husband”, or “Bla’s mom, Bla’s dad”.

TALENTS, LOVE, AND SKILLS

Song loved keeping herself busy by watching YouTube, especially the Hmong channel Vam Npis hab Kab Liab, following the stories of the Hmong woman who traveled to Africa. She was a skilled seamstress who poured care into every stitch, sewing traditional Hmong dresses - including one for her granddaughter Nancy - and crafting tiny outfits for glass dolls she lovingly assembled and sent off. In the kitchen, she was a true chef, known for her favorite dishes like chicken and tofu, beef laj, ncuav, boiled pork with mustard greens, blanched Chinese broccoli, chicken curry, and rambutans. Crafty, witty, and always collecting goods and treasures, she carried a creative spirit into everything she touched. In the most tender ways, she was also a Hmong doctor at heart - keeping herbs for nearly every ailment imaginable, ready to care for anyone who needed her.

Song’s Life was a tapestry woven from devotion, resilience, and an unshakable faith that carried her through every season. She loved fiercely, served humbly, and nurtured generations with her hands, her prayers, and her quiet strength. Her legacy lives on in the children she raised, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren she adored, the traditions she preserved, and the countless lives she touched through her cooking, her sewing, her healing herbs, and her unwavering commitment to prayer. Though she has gone home to her Heavenly Father, the imprint of her love remains - in every story told, every recipe passed down, every stitch of cloth she crafted, and every heart she covered in prayer. Her life was a blessing, her presence a comfort, and her memory will continue to guide and uplift her family for generations to come.

The family will receive friends and family for a Celebration of Life service at:

Location:

Ball Event Center

21350 W. 153rd St.

Olathe KS 66061

Services are as follows:

(SATURDAY) 29th AUG 2026

Session I Service: 10-12 PM Family Time: 2-3 PM

Session II Service: 3-5 PM

(SUNDAY) 30th AUG 2026Family Time: 2-3 PM

Service: 3-5 PM

Burial Ground:

There will be no services on Monday; family will receive family and friends at -

Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery

Parallel Pkwy & N. 126th St.

Kansas City KS, 66109

(MONDAY) 31st AUG 202610-12 PM