Phi Thi Nguyen

In 1976 Phi questioned me when I proposed to get married to Minh, her youngest daughter: Don’t you know we’re under new regime after Saigon collapsed? Life is very difficult to live now. Are you not worried? Yes, I know mother, but I also believe that God will definitely help us and with our true love we will overcome.

Because the change of regime in Vietnam, Phi had to move out of her motherland two times, one in 1953 from Hanoi to Saigon, the second time in 1983 from Saigon to the U.S. Even though she has lost lots of properties, land, big houses, even her beloved son in Vietnam war in 1975, I don’t see her complaint to God. What I heard all over again is all in her prayer to God and Thanks Him.

After her good husband passed away when she was at age of 53 without remarried, she continues taking care of her big family with 4 daughters and 2 sons. Tin Nguyen, the oldest is now 82 years old now, the youngest is Minh 68 years; 2 sons, the younger son Pilot Lieutenant Khoa who lost in action 1975, the older son Khiem, is here with his family.

What I remember in her:

True believer in God, good worshipper in any cases good or bad, Love and help poor people; Sacrifice for her children, grandchildren even her own sisters more often than thinking about herself; pray for each of them when they need her on any occasions.

Positive: when she was sick and Dr. Luan Nguyen came to visit her and did the exam and said she’s Ok, she’s happy, smile and goes back to normal easily. Dr. Dam Vu did some exams to her as well and found nothing serious, it made her happy.

Even though she does not have a chance to see her grown up children more often as she wanted, the truth is she always loves and pray for them many times a day.

She asked God as a favor for her to see grandchildren wedding, and she got it in August last year, but it is not enough time to see a 2nd wedding in October this year.

We all love you mom, grandma, great grandma. It is a great honor for you that your children, great grandchildren came here from Michigan, from California, from Shanghai to say good bye to you. Even relatives from Vietnam missed you, too. We all grew up and have high education and good profession as you have dreamed of.

Vietnamese often say a tiger leaves its valuable skin to the earth, but human leaves invaluable legacy to the world to follow. You leave us a great path to follow: love God and worship only Him, with the help of Mary and All Saints, work hard and spread God’s love to family and other people.