Mai was born on November 1, 1910 (Nham Tuat) in Hue, Vietnam. She was the daughter of Hong Cat and Vo Thi Hao. Raised in Vietnam, she was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, she learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that she would carry with her throughout her life.
As a young girl, Mai was always aware of how others around her felt and this quality served her well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Mai was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Mai was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where she could concentrate, Mai also had the ability to relate well with her family and friends. Mai was raised with 7 siblings, Ung Qua, Ung Thuyen, Ung, Truc Diep, Moc Can, and Ba. Mai was constantly involved in activities with her family. Mai and her siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.
Growing up, Mai was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. She was content to entertain herself. Mai was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, she was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything she did as a child, Mai was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around her. Mai took part in a number of activities as a child. In her spare time she liked playing with dolls and doing other fun activities that most little girls liked to enjoy. Mai's memorable achievements included being an oustanding student in school.
Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Mai. In 1933 Mai married Ngo Van Luong at home in Vy Da, Hue, Vietnam. She was totally committed to Ngo and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Mai naturally sensed her spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Mai disliked conflict, she did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.
Mai was a good mother to her children. She had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because she trusted emotions, Mai was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way she seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around her, always thinking before acting. In addition, Mai was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around her might be, she seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Mai was blessed with 3 children. She had 2 sons, Ngo Van Chuong and Ngo Van Phuong, and a daughter, Ngo Thi Minh Thu. They were also blessed with 19 grandchildren, Nguyet, Hung, Phong, Thuy, Hang, Tuyen, Thanh, Trang, Nhi, Minh, Tuan, Vu, Tram, Viet, Hoang, Hien, Phong, Hoa, and Tuong.
Mai liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Mai's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Mai preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on her hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were listening to music, watching movies, and reading the Buddhist Bible. Mai was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying her hobbies all by herself and could often be found just reading about her favorite pastimes.
While thorough and measured in her approach to things, Mai often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. She was like that with sports. Recreational sports included walking and jogging. Top on her list to watch was aerobics.
An individual who respected and maintained traditional values, her faith was important to Mai. Her compassion, consideration and sympathy toward others was evident in her personal beliefs. She was a Buddhist. During that time, she was going to temples and participating in various Buddhist committees.
Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Mai had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that she was the trip planner. She would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included Dalat City, Hue City, and Saigon City in Vietnam.
When retirement came around, Mai had taken the time to learn about her various options and chose her course wisely. Her new life involved relocating to Hue, Vietnam. In retirement, she found new pleasure in meeting with friends, relatives, and taking care of her husband. Even in retirement, Mai continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. She was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered her.
Mai passed away on March 21, 2010 at Mission De La Casa Nursing Center in San Jose, California. She passed away peacefully at the age of 101 surrounded by family. She is survived by her daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Services were held in the Lotus Room at Sunshine Chapel at Oak Hill Funeral Home in San Jose, California. Mai was laid to rest in Sunshine Garden at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.
It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Mai was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Mai was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of woman to whom everyone was drawn. She was thorough and practical. Mai Cong was very literal with her words. You always knew where you stood with Mai. She will be missed.
Arrangements under the direction of Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park, San Jose, CA.
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