Tra Thi Tran, 84. Born Oct. 5, 1936 in Vietnam. Our beloved mother passed away peacefully on Oct. 16, 2020 in Columbia Heights, MN. She is survived by daughters Tam Tran (Robert Arbor) and Sang Tran; grandchildren Lucien and Henri Arbor; Zoe and Jude Hazlett, nieces Khanh and Uyen Tran, nephews Nhan and Vinh Tran, along with many more family and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Huy Tran, sisters Tao Thi and Le Thi Tran, son-in-law Bart (Buck) Hazlett, and beloved grandchildren Olivia and Roan Hazlett.
Tra bravely left Saigon in 1975 with her daughters, nephews and niece all under the age of ten. Sponsored by University Lutheran Church of Hope, the Tran family settled in Minneapolis, a welcoming community to Vietnamese refugees. With hard work and immense determination, Tra worked tirelessly to make a good life for her family (working days, studying English at night), like many other newcoming families. A wonderful cook, she opened Matin in 1980, the first Vietnamese restaurant in Minneapolis’ Warehouse District.
Tra loved people, she had a great sense of humor and embraced the friendly community she found in Minnesota. With a sparkle in her eye and a big, bright smile, she talked, laughed and made friends wherever she went. She will be dearly missed.
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” Thomas Campbell
Visitation 9:30-11 AM. Buddhist Service 11 AM. Wed. Oct. 21, 2020. Sunset Funeral Home (2250 St. Anthony Blvd. NE Minneapolis). Social distancing and mask wearing observed.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5