Born on December 2, 1930 in a small village in Northern Viet Nam, she was arranged to marry at the early age of 17. She lost her mother to illness a year later. Her husband joined the military soon after and went away as long as a month at a time. She lived with his mother, his father, his grandmother and siblings and cared for them as if they were her own family. 

In 1948, the Communists invaded Northern Viet Nam and took control of several provinces and cities including her village. One night, she single-handedly led the family on feet to safety where they reunited with her husband waiting at a nearby city. Together, they all migrated south to Saigon, Viet Nam. 

In 1955, she gave birth to their first daughter -- the first of 12 children she would raise. Her husband's income of an Army officer would not be enough to feed 17 people. She struggled many days to help raise her large family, often working 12+ hour days to feed her children and extended family members. She had no more than a high school education but she was a savvy business woman. She had a gift for understanding what people needed not only in her personal life but also in her business dealings. 

In 1975, Communists were making their way to Southern Viet Nam. The prospect of the communists winning this war was imminent. Under Communism, her husband as a military officer of the opposing regime would be imprisoned for years and she would be left to fend for the entire family. The only option would be to, once again, leave everything she had ever known and risk her life, but this time to escape Viet Nam. She learned from an acquaintance there would be a boat that would take civilians to a US Military ship. With her husband, they planned the escape path, while coordinating with close relatives and all their families to ensure they would join, totaling almost 100 people. Together, they would all embark on a journey to a foreign land that would forever change their lives.

When they first stepped foot in America, her prayers were answered when she learned of family assistance programs and organizations that could help new immigrants settle in their newly adopted country. This was a welcome relief after having experienced the trauma of escaping 2 wars, losing a child, losing a sister, losing her mother, losing her father-in-law, and losing her husband's grandmother who had become such a strong influence in her life. She had experienced so much loss and financial distress that came with raising a large family.

After having lived in Nashville, Tennessee for 5 years, she knew there were limited opportunities for her children to live close to each other as they got older. She consulted with her husband to consider leaving his job to move out West to California. Then, in the summer of 1980, like sardines in a can, 13 of us squeezed into a van and set out for San Jose, California. California was the land of opportunity and this would be where all her kids would eventually grow up, go to school, get a solid education, lead successful lives and eventually settle down to raise their own children. 

Of her children, 8 live within a 5 mile radius of her house today. One other lives 10 miles away while the remaining 2 are at least in the state of California. One of her greatest wishes was that her children always remain close to her. And that they would each remain close to and love each other. That would make her most proud.

In the early 1980s, after she and her family settled in San Jose, CA, she learned of a Buddhist temple, Chùa Đức Viên, that was being run out of a house by a Vietnamese nun. There, she enrolled her younger children in classes so they would not only learn to read and write in Vietnamese but they would also learn about the Buddhist religion. They would also learn to pray, to volunteer, and to give back to their own community. 

She always felt strongly that prayer would guide her family and therefore, she became a regular fixture at Chùa Đức Viên where she would worship over the next 40+ years. She went on retreats with the monks and nuns to help the poor.  Among her retreats was a trip to visit India to help orphans and underprivileged children. She also donated her time and money to help support the temple's expansion efforts. She made so many friends at the temple. She was so grateful for what she was able to contribute to the temple. It provided her so much peace and satisfaction. Today, her picture sits at Chùa Đức Viên temple as they remember one of their longest and most loyal and loved worshippers.

July 28, 2022 must have been the saddest day of our lives. We lost our sweet mom. Our mom, who had been our guiding light all our lives. For years, her daily ritual was to pray and then go down the list and call each of her children to come over to eat. Or to bring her grand children over. Or to drive her to temple. That day, all our phones stopped ringing. We would no longer be hearing from our mom. 

We miss her voice. We miss her touch. We miss everything about our mom. We have never met anyone who loved and cared as deeply as our mom. We are so grateful we had her for as long as we did. And yet it still wasn't enough time. Mom, thank you for all your sacrifices. Thank you for your unconditional love. Thank you for everything you have taught us. One thing you didn't teach us was how to move on without you. You will live forever in our hearts.