Nhan Thi Pham's Obituary
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Phạm Thị Nhạn, at the young age of 66 years old.
The history of Mother begins and ends with the purity that her presence brought to the world and the lives she touched yesterday, today and will continue on for eternity. Born into this world on February 2nd, 1956 as the fifth child of Phạm Viết Kiển (father) and Ɖoàn Thị Nguy (mother), our beautiful and kind mother devoted her life to God, her family and friends, bringing joy and happiness to the lives of those around her. Raised in a large family with seven siblings, Mother lived a quiet and peaceful life, oftentimes walking for miles and miles early in the morning on the long dirt roads to attend Catholic Church dutifully as God’s servant, never complaining, never faltering. As it would appear, God had many plans for her beyond Vietnam and would test Mother’s resolve and faith in herself, others and God.
During the Vietnam War, like many before her and many after her, Mother fled to America in 1979 to seek a better life for her children, grandchildren, and future generations to come, forging a path of opportunities for others that were not in the cards for her. After arriving with her two young sons in tow and sadly leaving behind many family members, including her parents, Mother weathered the storms in this strange and different country of new beginnings and where anything is possible–not knowing whether she would ever return back to her motherland, Vietnam or ever see her parents again. She was like a captain in the vast ocean steering the ship, navigating through the unpredictable waves to care for her sons, welcome three more children into this vast world, and walk hand in hand with her family and friends into the unknown. In life, she experienced the loss of a baby, a divorce, being a single parent of four, and the joys of being a grandmother to five beautiful grandchildren. Through all her trials and tribulations, her faith in God only grew stronger. Each battle she overcame was a testament to the strength that God gave her to proceed forward, hand in hand with family, friends and those in need–never wavering, never doubting. To a fault, Mother carried her burden of stage four cancer silently, not wanting others to worry or suffer alongside her during the toughest of times. Her silent strength, she carried on, with humility and grace. She left this world just as pure as how she came into this world. Mother’s story began and ended with the purity of her soul and the grace that God blessed her with.
Mother is survived by her five siblings, Phạm Thị Hoa, Phạm Thị Nụ, Phạm Thị Hương, Phạm Hữu Thường, and Phạm Phương Uyên and her four children, Tam, Tan, Mary Ann and Teresa, along with her 5 grandchildren, Dominic, Rosie, Austin, James and Jack.
To honor Mother’s wishes, we are not accepting any gift money. To send flowers to the family of Phạm Thị Nhạn, 39175 Cedar Blvd, Newark, CA 94560, ph: (510) 794-6391.
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