Dear Vu,

Even though we never met, we are inspired and blessed by your words, courage, and love for your family and our friend, Thao.  We are deeply saddened that you are gone too soon.   Thank you so much for sharing your poignant and profound wisdom to the rest of us.   Although you have departed, you and your loved ones will meet again, in time:  here, there, and everywhere...because love is omniscient and eternal.   

Rest in peace and freedom,
Ngoc and Roy

My brother Vu Hoang Tran, I entrust you to God Who created you.
May you return to the One Who formed you from the dust of this earth.
May Mary, & the Angels, and all the Saints come to meet you as you go forth from this life.
May Christ Who was crucified for you bring you freedom and peace.
May Christ, the Son of God, Who died for you take you into His kingdom.
May Christ, the Good Shepherd, give you a place within His flock.
May He forgive your sins and keep you among His people.
May you see your Redeemer face to face and enjoy the sight of God forever in Heaven. 
And from Heaven up above, Please watch over your Mom Dad, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and Thao. 

“if you want to know how free you are, ask yourself, ‘how far does my love extend?’”
~ yung pueblo

Dear Vu,
True love is what we hope to give and receive during and beyond our time on this earth, as this is the journey to ultimate freedom. 
Even though we have not met or talked in person, I feel a strong connection with you through Thao, our wonderful mutual friend, and the inspiring stories you both have shared through your writing. 
May you rest in peace and freedom, knowing that you are remembered and cherished by those touched by your light and love.

My Eulogy for my brother Vu... I didn’t get to read it but sent a copy of it with him....
My name is Jackie Lan Brown, I am Vu’s baby sister.  My brother referred to me as “J”.  He also referred to my sister Judi as “J” but that’s a story I will save for another day.  
Growing up, Vu was always the regulating big bro according to my siblings.  Apparently, he had this “big brother persona” and kept all my siblings in check.  When Vu got sick, my siblings and I started discussing how Vu treated them as THE big bro and oldest of all the siblings.  Their stories confirmed one thing for me, Vu had a major sweet spot for me and I for him.  He use to take me everywhere with him when I was little while telling the rest of the siblings to get their butts home.  I just couldn’t relate to their stories because he was such a softy when it came to me and anything I wanted the answer was yes.  I am proud to say that I have the best, most caring & loving big brother.  Vu loved me with all his heart and babied me throughout my childhood into my adulthood life.  His letters to me would always start with “Hey Baby sis” and end with “Love your big bro”.  In of One of his letter he said “I keep picturing you as this little girl even though you are no longer a baby but you will always be my baby sis”.   I struggle with accepting that you are gone but am reminded of a poem you wrote to me. I wrote that same poem back to you when you were in the hospital.  I know you can hear me now and you’re watching over me as I recite your own poem back to you once again:

Vu,
When things look bad, Never give up, never Fear
Just close your eyes and look into your heart, and you’ll know I am always near.
I pray for your safety and the day you will be free.  
Be patient big bro,
That day will come, you will see.
I will be there to help you through all that come your way.
I just look to god every night, talk to him and pray.
He will answer my prayers big bro but until that day,
I hope you take care.

Whe

In your last letter to me, you wrote about rays of light in this world of darkness and despair. I have kept your letter on my desk ever since it arrived, and I am going to keep it for years to come. It made me smile and gave me hope.

Vu, I hope you know that you are one of those rays of light. When you wrote with such honesty and beauty about your life, you inspired me and so many others. I was lucky to know you and learn from you. 

You deserved better than this. You deserved your freedom in some other way.  I can only hope that you know you are loved, you'll be missed, and you will be remembered.

It took me a while to think of what to say because each time i think of you it breaks my heart.  We’ve known each other since forever, when we were younger you use to roll your eyes when you see me. 
I can still hear you now, wondering why me and my sisters were always at the house.  I’ve thought about the past and what could have been for the future.  It shouldn’t have been like this and I’ve told myself over and over how unfair things are.   But now you are free of the heartbreak and pain.   We will meet again in the next life since this one was cut short for you.  I love you and miss you. 

Dear Vu,
We never met in person, but it feels that we met again and again as Thao told us your extraordinary stories. We love her and so we love you.  I do believe that the work you were able to do in the past few years means that you have chosen the path of the bodhisattva. Helping people better understand the necessity for justice, and encouraging your friends to also speak out and write about it makes a real difference.  You are free now. Love and blessings. Paula

I am very touch to witness the unconditional love Vu has from his family, his mother, his father, his sisters and brother, his niece, his nephews, and his soulmate Thao. They say when you leave this world it's not the material things that tell you the true measure of a person but it is the heart that you touch. This is not the end but beginning of another journey. May you be remember for your big heart. I have also known of your innocence and for your wrongly unfair incarceration. May all the pain and suffering of the obstacle of life be a distant memory. RIP my friend Vu.


While I didn’t know you in this life, I have been blessed to have your sister Jackie as a dear friend. I know how much your family loved you and how deeply you will be missed by so many. I am grateful to have known your story, through your sister and the things you have written and what others have said about you.  Your character shows so much love, integrity, compassion, faith and perseverance. I have been praying for you, and will continue to pray for Jackie, your parents, family and loved ones. You are finally free now to walk with God. May you rest in peace.  

“Souls cross ages like clouds cross skies. I believe there is another world waiting for us...a better world. And I’ll be there waiting for you.”

Dear anh Vu,

               I am glad you are finally free at last. 

Love,
Fredo and Nadia

Dear Vu,

I’ll aways remember back in high school when I got in alot of trouble and lost all my long hair (Sinead O’Connor style) because of someone. That someone was not you so please don’t feel bad about that. You should feel bad about the time you told my dad I skipped school. I got a good butt whooping that day. It wasn’t funny then but we sure do get a good laugh when we reminisce. I probably didn’t like you much then but I grew to understand you were watching out for me like a little sister.  That’s just who you are - always taking care of everyone. ❤️

Though your time with us here on Earth was short, you have definitely left a footprint in our hearts. You will always be loved and never forgotten. 

Rest in peace. 
XOXO Le Hoang

Vu,

Though I didn’t know you in this life, I know your sister Jackie very well and proud to call her my friend. I also had the pleasure of spending holidays with your family as well. From what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen from your loved ones, you were a branch of the same tree and I have no doubt you were a great man as they are great people themselves. Some things I have read about you and you remind me of Jackie. She is one of the kindest most compassionate people I’ve met in my life and I see those traits in you from what I’ve read. She has helped me tremendously which will never go unnoticed. It hurts me to know her and your family have lost someone they loved dearly. May you finally Rest In Peace and I hope your family finds solace in knowing you are no longer in pain. Prayers for you and everyone affected by your passing. 🙏🏼

Vu,
I remember the day I read your story in my Sociology course taught by Thao. I remember she showed us pictures of you together as teenagers and how her face lit up when she talked about you. I remember how touched I was by your story and the stories of the men you had mentored. Through reading your letters I understood that even under the worst circumstances people can experience positive growth. It pains me that in our world people often do not have the chance to show the outside world this growth but it was a privilege and honor to get to see your growth through your writing. I am infuriated at the way the prison system dehumanized and mistreated all of you and continues to do so. I promise you that I will channel this anger into action and I will try my hardest to create real change in this unfair system. Not many school assignments have an impact on me but reading your letters and writing back to all of you was truly life changing. I am forever grateful that my education brought Thao into my life and that she brought you into my life. I hope that you left knowing what a huge impact you had on this world. I will never forget you or your story. Thank you. 
"I am sorry that this world could not keep you safe, may your journey home be a soft and peaceful one." -rupi kaur
All my love,
-Natelina Blake

Dear Vu

I first met Thao as neighbors and we, my wife and I,  have since become beloved friends. Through her I have come to understand her profound love for you under incredible circumstances. I have also read many of  your writings which have been inspirational to a large  and growing audience. Your courage through ordeal is moving beyond words and a befitting legacy in a sometimes indecipherable world.  None of us know what even tomorrow will bring but I hope you will rest in peace knowing that you made a difference. Thank you for that gift.

Dear Vu,
You have such beautiful eyes, kind, warm and gentle. They sit well in your kind face. I've heard so much about you from Thao, I feel like I know you , at least a little bit. Your life touched so many people that you never even met. Your courage, love and optimism in the face of incredible pain and suffering is a gift and lesson to us all. May you rest peacefully.

Dearest Thao, i've only met you once, over two years ago at Oceanside when I was visiting with a friend. I doubt you remember me, but i'll never forget you! You were so kind, so generous, so charming and I had such an amazing weekend with you and your friends.
Vu and Thao, your love is a rare and special thing to find; am so happy that you found each other and that you both eventually fully surrendered to it. How beautiful and powerful to read about you two soulmates; may your love burn eternal!
Vu we celebrate you and wish you a peaceful transition on your next journey. Thao, we love you so much and send you so so many hugs prayers. Thank you for fighting for Vu to the very end. He was so blessed to bow out knowing he is loved and cherished. To Vu's family, am so sorry for your loss.
With deepest condolences from Uganda
Divine

Divine 

Hi Vu,

You may remember me as one of the little kids running around your street when you were a teenager. My grandma lived on the same street as you did growing up. Your sisters babysat me and I baby sat your niece Tsia. We all took care of each other one way or another growing up in Granata. 

My parents and your parents are good friends. Even to this day, they would frequent my parents house to eat and drink.  I've heard great stories about you from my husband and would have loved to meet you one day. 

May your soul rest in peace. 

Dear Vũ,

I have not had the chance to know you but heard a lot of good things about you.  Thank you for all the creative projects you have contributed to this world. May you Rest In Peace!

Sincerely,
Anhlan

Rest In Peace Mr. Tran, it was a pleasure caring for you during your last few days on earth.  You maintained your smile and sense of humor although I knew you were in pain.  Oh how I pray the system will improve and COVID  disappears,  how I wish your family could have been at the hospital with you, to encourage you to keep fighting until you came home. You asked me how you would know when it would be your day, my answer only God knew for sure, I encourage you to focus on going home.   I am so thankful that the lieutenant approved you facebook call even though it was after midnight.   Mr Tran would always tell the nurses he will be watching over us from Heaven, he would have been telling his family and loved ones the same if allowed to visit. Mr Tran it was my pleasure to care for you. Patients like you make me proud to be a Prison Nurse and being with you when your family cannot. I will continue to advocate for patient in need of medical parole and push for your early release. God  Bless your family and loved ones. 

I never met you but I was moved by your published story. Your depiction of  life as a Vietnamese  growing up in Texas represented most of us who were there in the 80s-90s. Just about anyone I knew could have been you. Except your loyalty, commitment to others and honor are unmatched. 

You handled your life with courage and bravery. I hope you are soaring high with no limit to where you can go. Your strength, values and resilience were too good for this world. I hope those that were blessed to know you honor your memory as you did to them while here. Fly high and free. 

Dear Vu- we never met but I feel like we would’ve been good friends based on what Thao has written about you. Your girl and I are kindred spirits and I will hold her close to my heart as you rest. All we ever want in this life is to connect with others and to know that we’ve made an impact in some way...you’ve done just that through sharing your own story, and I’m sure Thao will ensure that your legacy will live on. 

Words don’t come easy. Sometimes I sit back and reflect back on life  and how we all got here and why we have to leave someday. I’m not sure what the man above has in store for each of us but what I do know, is you are no longer in pain. I’ll never forget the times we shared and all the advice you have given me.   

“ In life, we loved you dearly,
   In death, we love you still.
   In our hearts you hold a place,
   No one else will fill.”

We miss you, Vu💔

Vu was a great friend and brother to me. One time he calmed down a friend who was angry at me for getting his brother in trouble.  This guy had a gunto my head and Vu told him to “chill” and to put the gun away. I believe Vu saved my life that day. 
Then there were the days of working together. Vu had asked if I could get him a job where I worked at that time, Phoenix Electrodes. And for the next few months we worked side by side. We would car pool and talk about our love life. He was dating Thao and I was dating Thao’s sister at that time. We would always joke around and have a good time at work. Work hours would pass by so fast because of the fun we had and the camaraderie we shared. 
There’s just too many good memories of Vu. I will always remember the way he treated me with respect and honor. Of course, there are many stories of Vu and I that I just can’t share. Some things are meant to be between brothers. I will miss you greatly Mr. Hoang Vu Tran. May you run joyfully around in Gods kingdom. 

I know we've never met, but I feel like I know you. Thao Ha is a very good friend of mine. I was fortunate enough for her to share your story with me.  I was deeply touched by everything she told me. There are bonds that cross borders that normally divide people. I share a bond with you. Rest In Peace Brother. 

Dearest Vu,

You are a friend I never met. But you held the heart of someone I care very much about, and she, in turn, held yours. For all the love and light you brought to this world, we honor your life and the place you made in it for the people around you.  May all your good come back to you in your new life, still within our hearts.



Vu, 

I’m not good with this emotional stuff but my heart aches and I’m still struggling to understand why. You didn’t deserve this. Not this way.  I wish we could turn back time. 😔

Love & Miss you,
Debbie

MY HEART ACHES FOR THE LOSS OF VU AND HOW MUCH PAIN YOU GUYS ARE GOING THRU. I WAS REALLY HOPING WE HAD MORE TIME WITH VU AND SO HOPEFUL HE MAY HAVE A CHANCE TO LIVE OUT A HAPPY LIFE.  HIS SPIRIT AND ENERGY IS STILL HERE WITH ALL OF YOU.  

I AM SO TRULY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS OF SUCH AN AMAZING MAN, SON, BROTHER, UNCLE. HE WAS SO VERY LOVED. 

MAY GOD WRAP HIS ARMS AROUND YOUR FAMILY AND SEND YOU ALL LOTS OF LOVE AND HEALING.  

OBITUARY

Hoang Vu Tran

October 8, 1972 – September 12, 2020

Brookside Funeral Home-Cypress Creek

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