Nyunt, Ni Ni "Noreen Gyi" of Needham, wife of the late U Hla Nyunt and daughter of the late U Maung Maung Gyi and Daw Khin Nyunt of Myanmar, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2014 surrounded by her family. Loving mother of Khin Swe Myint of Arlington, Virginia; Wynn Wynn Nyunt and Norberto Ong of Makati, Philippines;
Si Si N. and George Goneconto of Needham, MA. Devoted grandmother of Mike and Maureen Ong, Tim Mulvehill and Samantha Fonseca-Moreira, Stephanie Ong and Luis del Rosario, and Jackie Mulvehill. Great-grandmother of Marco Ong, Lucas del Rosario and Mattias Ong. She will also be missed by Keri, Brett and Chrissie Mulvehill, Khin Sanda and Cedric Coleman. Survived by beloved nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews who came from all over the world to be by her side and numerous familial friends.
Ni Ni was born in Dedaye, Myanmar to a family of seven daughters. At age four, she attended the Taungoo Convent of the Sisters of Reparation. Ni Ni graduated from Rangoon University with a Bachelor of Science. She was one of Myanmar's first state scholars and attended Columbia University and received Masters' degrees in Library Science and Sociology. She met and fell in love with U Hla Nyunt, also a state scholar attending Lehigh University and Chicago University, working on his Master's in Physics. Ni Ni and Hla Nyunt were engaged in New York City and returned to Myanmar for their wedding. They moved to Vienna, Austria in 1960 and lived there till 1966 when U Hla Nyunt then a senior officer at the International Atomic Energy Agency passed away. In 1967, Ni Ni and her three daughters moved to the Philippines. Ni Ni started the library at the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Ni Ni's greatest gifts was that she was loved by so many and that she made friends so easily. Her warmth, generosity and graciousness will be deeply missed but the amazing memories and gifts of love she gave will be cherished by so many - forever and more.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the U Hla Nyunt and Ni Ni Nyunt Memorial Trust, 621 High Rock Street, Needham, MA 02492. A private graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, August 30.