Michelle Hai Nguyen

We are all gathered in the memory of our mother-Me’, grandmother & great grandmother-Ba, Michell Hai Nguyen. Together, we are acknowledging the gifts and the impact her life has made on every one of us.

She leaves behind eight children. I am Robert, her son-number six out of eight kids; Ly, Milton, Jacqueline, Danielle, Son, David, and Michael. She has eleven beautiful grandchildren-Delain as we know-Ti, Ashley, Justin, Nicole, Kevin, Tiffany, Brian, Taylor, Aaron, Evan, and Matthew. There are even more beautiful three great grandchildren-Aliyah, Jesse, and Nikolas. A considerable integral part of this family is the kids’ loving partners-Phat, Quyen, Derrick, Michelle, Sabrina, Kellie, Joanne, and Adrian. A special note for Mom’s close friend-Father Joseph.

Mom was only 80 years young when she passed away on September 17, 2021. She has left a legacy of love and perseverance for us, and she has touched our lives in so many ways through her relentless energy and sacrifices. She was a strong woman from beginning to end.

Mom’s birth given name is Hai Thi Nguyen; it later became Michelle Hai Nguyen. She was born on May 15, 1942, in Hanoi, north Vietnam. The family later moved down south to Saigon, south Vietnam. She decided 47 years ago to leave Vietnam. A country she only knew, proudly loved, and called home-Vietnam. She was never to return or see it again. From Camp Pendleton to Archbold, Ohio, and finally, the family settled in Houston, Texas.

Mom was a single mother, and she never shied away from that responsibility, nor did she reluctantly wavered against the adversities that stood ahead. She tirelessly made sure she provided a roof over our heads. For that, her life would reflect the sacrifices she made in her children’s successes were worth her valiant efforts.

She was beautiful and radiant, a smile that always glowed! She has an eye for fashion and dresses up for the occasion. She had the gift of the gab. She had a lot of friends. She knew how to socialize, entertain, she loved music and had a lot of dance parties!

She had a penchant for cooking, a love for food, especially preparing large family meals. It was her way of showing her love for us. Of Mom’s favorites, it was her famous egg rolls. It was delicious, tasty! Most of all-it was made by her love.

Proud would be an understatement when it came talking about her children, from introducing us kids to her friends and especially to her supervisors at her work. We would line up by age and show our impeccable manners. She treasured her family with keepsake moments with every photo and card given to her; she kept every single one! Mom would write on the back of that card in Vietnamese thanking you, and she said that she loved you and put a date on it. What can we say, other than she loved us!

Mom loved animals. They gave her joy, laughter and unconditional love. She spent the majority of her time gardening after retirement. It was her passion and true love. She was a natural and was gifted. She did have the ultimate green thumb! It renewed her spirit, provided her energy, gave her nurturing and, most of all-healing.

Mom was a fighter! Undeniably, a winner and champion against adversity. She battled the obstacles of life. When she lost jobs from being laid off-she worked even harder, in relationships-we always had her back. She never quit her family; she always tried. We admire her determination to have a better life. She strived to make herself happy by living vicariously through her children.

Mom played an essential role in everyone’s lives. Her light shines with us, more poignant-how we learned with her. We have learned unknowingly and inadvertently the impact of her sacrifices and her values through her action.

We want to thank you, Mom, for your love and sacrifices. We honor you, respect you, will cherish you, and most of all-love you for who you are.