Shi Paw

Obituary for our beloved mother Pee Shi Paw

Pee Shi Paw was born on January 1st, 1964, in a remote village called Ku Day in Karen State, Burma. She grew up in a warm household with supportive parents, mother Naw Bway Paw and father Saw Thein Shwe, and six other siblings. She was the fifth child and had three sisters and brothers altogether. Due to a remote nature of her village and lack of accessibility to a formal education, Pee Shi Paw was fortunate to experience a primary education up until 2 nd grade at Htee Koe school. She grew up learning and helping her family with farming, gardening, and developed a lifelong skills in weaving Karen traditional clothes.

In 1982, at the age of 18, she found the love of her life, Tha Pwa Saw Hla Thin and together entered a lifetime commitment of sacred marriage. In the ensuing years, she gave birth to 8 wonderful children, 5 daughters and 3 sons, one daughter deceased as a child. In addition, she raised a niece as her own child.

In 1997, due to internal civil war, the family was forced to pick-up little belongings they had and moved closer to Thai-Myanmar border in several places called Mae Yeh refugee camp, Mae Kaw Ka refugee camp in 1999, and Mae La Oo refugee camp in 2004. After 7 years of resided in Mae La Oo, in 2011 the family had opportunity to resettle in the United States. During her young age, Pee Shi Paw grew up practicing family transitional belief and shamanism. However, after marriage she became a believer in Christ and converted to Christianity. As a believer, she gave what she had to her church and helped what she could to fellow believers. Most important of all, her devotion and dedication to her Christian belief remained with her until her last breath. In her family, she was an anchor to her children and taught them to obey God, love their people and speak the mother tongue. To her, family was her priority. She also set aside time to share joy with friends and guests. Additional significant highlight of her contribution to the family and community was the passing knowledge of Karen traditional weaving skills and gardening, beautiful flowers in the spring and green vegetable in the summer.

She was rest in peace in the presence of God and surrounded by her beloved family in her Saint Paul home on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. She was survived by her husband, children and grandchildren.