Done Souvannasone

Done Souvannasone, age 76, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 3, 2023. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, and grandmother.

She was a generous soul with a strong spirit. She was living with dementia for the past two years before her passing.

Done (pronounce as Don), was born on September 1, 1946, in Thailand, in the province of Nakhon Phanom, Ban Phaeng. She was one of five children: Dowe, Doum, Done, Seang, and Seng. After her mother passed away, her father migrated the family back to his home country of Savannakhet, Laos.

Growing up with a single father, her family struggled financially. She knew that the only path to success is through education. During the 1960s, the illiteracy rate in Laos was 80-85 percent. Only the elites and nobilities had the means to achieve higher education. This did not deter Done from pursuing her goal, so she diligently studied. She was determined to attend the prestigious University of Laos, but would need a scholarship. She ranked in the top 1% in the country on her college entrance exam. With arduous work and determination, her dream came true. Done attended the University of Laos in Vientiane with a full-ride scholarship.

Done strongly believed in the importance of education and that knowledge is power. During her youth, Laos was a French protectorate country, so the university courses were all taught in the French language. The key to success was to be fluent in French. She graduated with a college degree, which was extremely rare at the time. With the desire to help others achieve a better future, she became a teacher. She had opportunities to teach in private schools for the rich and affluent families for a higher wage, but chose to teach in a public school instead, where she felt she could make the most impact.

After graduation, she met and married her sweetheart, Bounanne. They were married for 56 years before his passing on November 12, 2022. Their souls now reunited in the afterlife.

Done was generous to a fault, willing to give the shirt off her back for anyone. Friends visiting would never leave empty handed. She loved the people in her community and did volunteer work. She was selfless and never liked to talk about herself. She worked at charity events; contently working in the kitchen and helping at every opportunity.

She loved cooking for her family, enjoyed gardening, and fishing with her husband. She was the happiest at family gatherings and cookouts. She always adored watching her grandchildren grow and flourish.

Done never held back her laughter; she laughed whole-heartedly and the sound of her laughter will echo in our hearts forever.

Done was blessed with a large loving family. Her five children will forever miss her: daughters, Malay (Dennis) O’Kroley and Kit Lee (David, son-in-law, passed away on September, 17, 2022); sons: Walinekhone (Nicole), Bobby (Anne), and Andrew (Nancy); and grandchildren: Gino, Jacob, Penelope, Aarywen, Noah, Liam, and Reyn.

A private Christian burial will be held at the Sun Prairie Sacred Hearts Cemetery.