Surachaporn Addy Desnoyers, 59, of Ketchum, died peacefully at the family home in Lampang, Thailand, on Sept. 1, 2010.
Addy was diagnosed with advanced cancer of the liver in January. Thanks to the generosity of friends and family, she was able to return to Thailand in March, where she continued to undergo a series of treatments until she died.
Surachaporn Jadsuoy was born March 11, 1951, and raised in Lampang in northern Thailand. In 1988, she married James Desnoyers of Ketchum in Thailand. They had no children. They were later divorced but remained close.
Addy was a fixture in local downtown retail and restaurant businesses for more than 20 years. She worked for Ketchum Drug until it closed and then for the Pioneer Saloon, Globus Noodle, Atkinsons' Market and Chateau Drug. Her broad smile was infectious and warmed anyplace she was. She loved to cook and would often press fresh homemade soup and noodles onto friends and strangers alike.
Addy loved the high country of Idaho. She spent endless hours of her free time exploring up canyons, prowling lakeshores and searching for yet another waterfall. She loved boating and became an accomplished fisherwoman with a long list of spicy ways to prepare a catch.
She was a very spiritual person. A devoted Theravada Buddhist, she had an unlimited curiosity about other faith traditions and could often be found participating in all sorts of spiritual exercises and discussions. Her own faith was deep enough that she spent several years as a Buddhist nun at a Wat near Lopburi, Thailand.
Addy became a naturalized American citizen in 1998. She sometimes exclaimed that being a person with dual nationality meant twice the obligation to try to make the respective governments do the right things for their people.
She is survived by her sister and numerous nieces and nephews in Lampang and a host of friends of every ethnic and national origin imaginable.
Her family and friends want to thank the patient advocates, physicians and staff of St. Luke's of Hailey, Ketchum and Magic Valley, Mountain States Tumor Institute, Social Security and the Wood River Hospice and Palliative Care for their efforts for Addy.
Cremation ceremonies were held in Lampang, Thailand, on Sunday, Sept. 5, in accordance with local tradition. A Celebration of Life for Addy will be announced at a later date.
