Duong Thi Nguyen

Duong Thi Nguyen was a woman for whom actions would speak louder than words. Her life motto might well have been “if it isn’t logical, it’s not important.” The qualities of being fair, just and the ability to recognize what was right were clearly driving forces in Duong’s life. She was also the kind of person who could respect a “do not disturb” sign, whether it was real or implied. She was analytical and observant, with an ability to be simultaneously spontaneous and keenly perceptive. Duong was modest in her actions and extremely literal in her thoughts and in the manner in which she communicated with others. When Duong said something, she meant it. All those who knew her appreciated this trademark quality.      Duong was born on December 31, 1915 at home in Thinh Quang Village, Ha Dong Province, Vietnam. Her parents were Nguyen Van Cha and Nguyen Thi Con. Duong was raised in Thinh Quang Village, Ha Dong Province, Vietnam. Even as a small child, Duong wanted to understand what was right and what was wrong in any given situation. As Duong grew older, she realized the importance of being treated fairly, and in return, she treated everyone around her the same way. This belief in fair play served Duong well throughout her life and despite her natural shyness; she enjoyed a solid group of friends.      This same loyalty and up front honesty Duong shared with her friends carried over to other aspects of her life, including her relationships with her family. In 1933, Duong exchanged wedding vows with Nguyen Van Thien at Thinh Quang Village, Ha Dong Province, Vietnam. The marriage became a solid relationship, due in part to Duong’s skill at bringing fresh energy and clarity to meeting Thien's needs. She was a great listener who enjoyed the couple’s “together” time, especially when it came to celebrating special occasions.      As the family grew, Duong was easily able to adapt to the changes and challenges of parenthood. Duong was blessed with five children, one son, Trung, and four daughters, Ly, Le, Nhu, and Ut. She was also blessed with ten grandchildren, Dung, Hung, Tien, Phuc, Dan-Que, Toan, Chi-Mai, Anh-Kiet, Anh-Dao, and Anh-Thu. Duong was never impulsive in dealing with family problems. Instead, she would carefully think things through before implementing the solution in a logical and objective manner. Duong was a strong, clear communicator who excelled at eliminating confusion by making matters crystal clear to all those involved. At the same time, Duong’s inventive nature could turn some of the boring old household chores into a fun activity for the family.      In her work life, Duong was the kind of person who had no difficulty in taking on a project and seeing it through to its completion. She excelled at dealing with those pesky details that can derail some people, and once she understood exactly why she was working on a project, she could plow full steam ahead. For Duong, being able to grasp the logical components of any task was significant to her in appreciating its importance. Even if she worked alone on an assignment, Duong was able to incorporate and welcome new insights from co-workers, and she would readily use them if they improved the process. Her primary occupation was as a small business owner. Duong always made the effort to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.      Duong’s curious and inquisitive nature influenced her choice of leisure pursuits as well. She applied her strong concentration and analytical skills as to how things worked to her choice of activities. She particularly enjoyed the “alone” time her hobbies provided. Her favorite pursuits were playing cards. Duong was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.      Religion and faith were important to Duong. She held dear the faith and values she derived from her beliefs. She was a member of many Buddhist temples in Nha Trang and Saigon for 40 years. During that time, she helped with raising funds.      As her retirement approached, Duong viewed the event as just one more project to research and solve. So, when the day finally arrived in April 1, 1975, she was well prepared. Her new life involved relocating to Saigon, Vietnam. In retirement, she found new pleasure in praying on a daily basis at home and also going to the Buddhist temples.      Duong passed away on November 12, 2009 at Regional Medical Center in San Jose, California due to natural causes. She is survived by her children, Trung, Ly, Le, Nhu, Ut, and their spouses; her grandchildren, Dung, Hung, Tien, Phuc, Dan-Que, Toan, Chi-Mai, Anh-Kiet, Anh-Dao, and Anh-Thu; and her great grandchildren, Hoa and Hieu. Services were held at Oak Hill Funeral Home in the Lotus Room. Duong was laid to rest in Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.      Duong strongly believed that talk is cheap. She was the type of person who would show others her feelings through her actions. She was practical and realistic but was able to be flexible when the need arose. She had a curiosity about the things around her and tried to experience life directly rather than sit back and talk about it. The experiences she treasured most were those she shared with her loved ones. Duong Thi Nguyen will be greatly missed.