Phongsamouth Manibod Outsama

Mrs. Phongsamouth Manibod Outsama, age 90, passed away on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Phongsamouth, known to all who loved her as "Moot", was born on December 16, 1934, in Saravane, Laos. She was the cherished daughter of Phagna Tha Manibod and Nag Dam Chambert Manibod and second mother, Mani Chou Manibod. One of fourteen siblings, Phongsamouth was part of a large, close-knit family whose love remained central to her life until her final days.
She married Dr. Kao Outsama, former professor and diplomat of Laos, on January 15, 1966. Together they had one daughter and two sons, Indara, Sourigno, and Manorath.
Trained in Paris, France as a nurse and a social worker, Phongsamouth spent her early career in Laos as a pediatric nurse at Mahosot Hospital and as a social worker at the That Khao Orphanage in Vientiane. After immigrating to the United States in 1976, she continued her lifelong mission to help others-becoming a nursing assistant, an educator, and a translator for English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. She had a passion for working with immigrants and refugees, understanding firsthand the struggles they faced in a new land.
Phongsamouth was a woman of strong faith who leaned on God in every season of her life, especially after the sudden loss of her husband in 1978. As a widow and single mother of three young children in a foreign country, she carried a burden few could bear, but she never complained. Instead, she turned to God for strength. Her favorite encouragement to her children was simple and enduring, "Trust in God and persevere."
She worked multiple jobs to ensure her children had food on the table and good education. She placed immense value on learning, not only for her children but for herself. She believed that education was a lifelong pursuit. Even in her later years, she loved reading about history, politics, and historical figures who made impacts in the world. She saw education as a way to better understand the world and to better serve it.
Despite her many responsibilities, she never hesitated to open her home to others and never turned away anyone who needed help. Her kindness, rooted in her faith and her cultural heritage, left an unforgettable mark on everyone who crossed her path.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. Kao Outsama; her son, Manorath Outsama; her son-in-law, Paul E. Castagnoli; her parents; and several of her siblings. Phongsamouth is survived by her son Sourigno Outsama and daughter-in-law Jo Outsama, her daughter Indara Castagnoli and granddaughter Isabelle Castagnoli, along with her cherished siblings, nieces, nephews, and family in Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee, France, Portugal, Australia, and Laos.
Phongsamouth's legacy is one of courage, perseverance, and love. Her children and granddaughter carry her legacy forward in the values she instilled: faith in God, compassion for others, and resilience in the face of life's greatest challenges.
The Outsama and Castagnoli families would like to express our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers during this time of mourning. Your kindness has brought comfort as we grieve the loss of our mother.