Sithilert "Jack" Sivilay

1970 - 2025

Sithilert Sivilay, Jack, passed away on January 24, 2025, at the age of 54. As the youngest of eleven children, he was born on February 11, 1970 to parents Thongyou and Chanbouapha Sivilay in Vientiane, Laos. Jack immigrated to the United States in 1976 with his oldest sister, Oravonne, and her husband, Khamphot Siri-Outhay, settling in Alexandria, Minnesota. Jack always saw them as a second set of parents and, with deep affection, called them 'Mom' and 'Dad'. Jack grew up with his younger nieces, Ouraphone, Marylynn and Melissa Siri-Outhay who loved him dearly and looked up to him as a big brother. His ten siblings, spread across the globe, always looked out for him with the love and care of big brothers and sisters, forever protecting their little brother.

In 1981, he moved with them to Apple Valley, where he graduated from Apple Valley High School in 1989. He married Wendy Sue Hovde on May 24, 1997, and they relocated to San Marcos, Texas later that year. They lived there raising their four children up to the time of his death.

Jack was loved by everyone he met, capturing them with his infectious smile and his kind, friendly attitude; his good-natured demeanor was inclusive to all. He loved the Minnesota Vikings, playing golf with his buddies, acting as the party-planner and trip-organizer for family and friends, and finding a Lao restaurant in every place he visited. Most importantly, he loved his family with a passion.

Jack is preceded in death by his father Thongyou Sivilay, his mother Chanbouapha Sivilay, his brother Amphanphone Sivilay, and father-in-law Jon Hovde. He is survived by his wife, Wendy, sons Cory and Riley, daughters Emily and Molly, sister Oravonne Siri-Outhay and husband Khamphot, brother Inthasone Sivilay and wife Duangsamone, sister Amonechanh Luangrath and husband Nouanedeng, sister Phetnakhone Chanthavong and husband Panong, sister Siriphone Manikhong, sister Malimone Rodden, brother Thiphakone Sivilay and wife Southaporn, brother Soutsakhone Sivilay and wife Phouvieng, brother Phonepraseuth Sivilay and wife Phiangchay, mother-in-law Ann Hovde, sister-in-law Melissa Hovde, brother-in-law Timothy Hovde, nine nieces, seven nephews, four grandnieces, and three grandnephews.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 1:00 pm at First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland Street, San Marcos, and the funeral service will follow beginning at 2:00 pm. Upon completion of the service, burial will take place at San Marcos City Cemetery, 1001 Old Ranch Rd. 12, San Marcos.