Of Herndon, VA, passed to the lord on Thursday, January 03, 2019, after a struggle with liver cancer that arose from a hepatitis infection.
The youngest of 13 children, she was one of the "Boat People" to leave her native Vietnam.
Rescued at sea, she passed through refugee camps in Thailand and the Philippines where she learned her new language - English. Sponsored by an older brother, Van Nguyen, she came to the U.S. and became a naturalized citizen.
Dao worked as a hair stylist and won numerous awards during her 25+ years of service. Her many client "requests" knew her as "Nancy" and she greeted all on a first name basis.
Dao enjoyed sewing and cooking. She took special pride in making apple sauce every fall for gifts to friends and family.
She is survived by her loving husband of 25 years, Skip Essigmann. Her only child, Martin, age 22, is presently teaching English to students in Vietnam.
