Worcester, MA - Huong Le, 74, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. She is survived by her husband; Hai Hoang, to whom she was happily married for 55 years. According to the Lunar Calendar, she was born in the year of the Dragon, in Thach Han, Vietnam. She was very proud of her zodiac sign and she personified it. She was enthusiastic, confident, intelligent, ambitious, hardworking, and kind. She studied in Quang Tri and became a teacher at one of the popular technical schools in the Province Gia Dinh. Her students would visit her home on Sundays to practice sewing and the many other trades she offered to her students.
The Vietnam War was a hard time for all families, especially for hers when the communist regime put her husband in a re-education war camp for 7 years. During that time (1975-1982), she solely raised 6 of her children; Ha-Long, Diem-Long, Bao-Long, Quynh-Long, Vu-Long, and Tan-Long. They not only loved her because she was their mother; they also loved and admired the confidence she had in her to nurture them through the toughest times. The hardship did not wear on her; she was always ambitious to make the best of things for her children. Her husband knew that about her and counted every day that they were apart. He counted 7 years and 10 days, two of which were to travel back to her and their children. Soon after her husband’s return, they conceived their youngest daughter, Hieu-Chuong.
To make a better life for her family, she and her husband escaped Vietnam by boat with Hieu-Chuong. They landed at a Malaysian refugee camp and were stationed there for the next 4 years. It was important to her to contribute to the refugee community; she taught home education and technical skills to women in the camp, which eventually led her to work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UNHCR commended her efforts and intelligence even with the English language barrier.
The United States Refugee Admission Program (USRAP) helped them establish their new life in America, in 1993. She and her husband purchased a home within the first year and a half of living in America. She sponsored her children to come to America. Each of her children lived in her home, and she encouraged them to be successful professionals. She enjoyed her retirement years spending time with her children and their spouses: Cong Nguyen, Hoa Tran, Diep Tran, Scott Rocheford, and Lam Nguyen. Her grandchildren: Tue-Chuong Hoang (predeceased), Van-Anh Bui, Uy Bui, Han Bui, Anh Tran, Minh Tran, Ngoc Hoang, Kim Hoang, Johannah Hoang, Julianna Hoang, Amanda Shaw, Hannah Rocheford, and Nathan Nguyen were raised with the same values she instilled in her children.
She touched the lives of many over the course of her life. Even her young grandchildren recognized the imprints she left in people. Most adoring of all, you can see this when their eyes twinkled at her mention. It’s a great loss to our family, friends, and the community. She was an amazing, talented, kind, and beautiful woman. When asked, “What’s your favorite memory of her?” people’s first response is, “Do I have to pick one? There are so many good memories.” Our family truly believes that she was heaven sent and we are blessed to have her in our lives. We want to thank everyone for their condolences. It’s healing to hear how much she is cherished and loved by others. May peace be with her. She will live forever in our hearts.
“To live in the hearts of those who love us is never to die."
-T. Campbell
Please join our family in celebrating Huong Thi-Thu Le’s life.
SUNDAY, MARCH 27th, 2016
• Nordgren Memorial Chapel
300 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605 (508) 852-2161
10:00AM - 12:00PM Opening Buddhist Ceremony
12:00PM - 8:00PM Funeral Visitation
MONDAY, MARCH 28th, 2016
• Nordgren Memorial Chapel
300 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605 (508) 852-2161
10:00AM – 12:00PM Closing Buddhist Ceremony
• Rural Cemetery and Crematory
180 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605 (508) 754-1313
12:00PM – 1:15PM Buddhist Ceremony
1:30 PM Cremation (Immediate Family Only)
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the memory of Huong Thi-Thu Le to Hue Lam Meditation Temple and/or to VNA Hospice Care.
Hue Lam Meditation Temple
2 Vernon Ct.
Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-348-9038
VNA Care Network & Hospice
Development Office
120 Thomas Street
Worcester, MA 01608-1280
or securely online at www.vnacarenetwork.org
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