Malinda Khem

Malinda Chenda Khem, 58, passed away on March 16, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, laughter, and an abundance of love. Born June 2, 1967, Malinda was a Cambodian immigrant who escaped the terrible hardships of the 1970’s Cambodian genocide determined to live a better life in America. She built a life defined by the warmth and love she gave to others.

Malinda immigrated to America in the early 1980’s to Houston, TX and eventually moved to Long Beach, CA to reconnect with her family who also immigrated to America away from the war. In 1984, she married Jay and for over 18 years lived in Malden, MA a suburb north of Boston where they raised their family. During those years, she worked the night shift at Analog Devices where she met other fellow immigrants who had gone through a similar journey. She worked tirelessly at night while also taking care of her children and home during the day. She also worked hard to better her English by taking classes at Bunker Hill Community College. She never complained while juggling all of this and tried to set a good example for her children. She eventually moved back to Long Beach, CA to be closer to her siblings and enjoy the California sun. She was the life of the party with her sisters, quick to laugh & make jokes and embrace those around her. She enjoyed the simple things in life like watching Wheel of Fortune or watching action movies. She dreamed one day of traveling to Italy or going to see the Great Wall of China. Whenever a documentary would show up on tv, she would comment on how great it would be to travel and explore new cultures. 

An avid gardner, Malinda worked hard in her garden to grow delicious food like pomegranates, avocados, mangoes, pomelos, eggplant, the list was endless. She was proud of her garden and was not shy to share her secrets on how to keep her garden thriving. She also anchored her family gatherings with her cooking. Whether it was Cambodian hotpot for Christmas or grilled lemongrass beef sticks for a birthday, she was always making food for others. Her fried egg rolls were the main staple at any family event.

It was a running joke in the family that Malinda had two grandkids, her two Jack Russell Chihuahua dogs named Bush and Obama. She loved these dogs and doted on them.

Malinda was predeceased by her beloved son, Rady who passed away January 2023 at 35 years old. She is survived by Jay Sath, her husband of over 40 years; her loving daughter, Susanna Sath and her son-in-law Calvin Chan; and her granddaughter, Ella. Though they lived apart, Malinda deeply valued every moment they shared. She was also 1 out of 11 children and is survived by her siblings: Satum, Lime, Kunthea, Vichan and Kanith.

A funeral service will be held at 9:30 AM on April 4, 2026, at Forest Lawn in Cypress, California.

In her memory, the family suggests sharing a meal with loved ones or enjoying a moment in the sun, reflecting the simple ways Malinda brought joy to those around her.