Visitors say good-bye to Pham

Web Extras: Marketplace, Bridal, Headlines by Email, Postcards

Visitors say good-bye to Pham

Tuesday, May 02, 2000

Bang "Bonnie" Ngo quietly greeted visitors yesterday at Laughlin Funeral Home in Mt. Lebanon, dabbing her eyes with a tissue and reaching out to touch a hand, an arm, an elbow to acknowledge condolences. Nearby, her 5-year-old son, Chris, rocked on the floor in front of the coffin that held the body of his father, Thao Q. Pham.

More coverage:
For complete Post-Gazette coverage, click here.

"My worry is the children. I don't want children to see this again," she whispered fiercely. "We don't ever want to see this happen again."

At mid-afternoon, about 25 mourners, mostly men in open shirts and slacks, had gathered to sit with the family. A table before the catafalque held ceremonial dishes of rice, cakes and other foods and beverages. Oriental music played softly.

Pham, a native of Vietnam who lived in Castle Shannon and dreamed of owning a restaurant, died in a shooting rampage that his wife is still struggling to comprehend. "There has been too much of this," she said, referring to ethnic hatred. "We have to find a way to stop this."

Visitation continues from 2 to 9 p.m. today. Ngo plans to have her husband's body cremated and carry the ashes back to Vietnam.

Visitation for another of Friday's shooting victims, Ji-Ye "Jerry" Sun of Churchill, will be private. Family and friends may obtain times by calling Jobe Funeral Home, Turtle Creek. Plans for a service were yet to be announced.