Thuyền Thị Trần

Our mother was born on February 7, 1937, in Bạc Liêu, and spent part of her childhood in Rạch Giá. 

She passed away surrounded by the love of her children and family, leaving behind a legacy of strength, sacrifice, compassion, and devotion.

She was the beloved daughter of a deeply spiritual Buddhist family. Her father passed away when she was only four years old, and from a young age she learned resilience, faith, and perseverance. She grew up alongside her older sister, two younger brothers, and younger sister. Guided by her great-grandparents, she learned and memorized Buddhist scriptures as a child, carrying her spiritual devotion throughout her life.

At the age of 18, she married and later moved to Rạch Sỏi. She worked as a tailor to help support the family and became a mother at 19 years old.

During the 1960s, she worked side by side with her husband to build a bicycle repair shop. Through determination, long hours, and hard work, the small family business grew into a successful and thriving shop. While helping run the business, she also devoted herself fully to raising her children. She worked tirelessly day and night, always placing her family before herself.

She was known for her frugality, humility, and generous heart. She rarely spent money on herself, instead saving every dollar to help build the family’s first home and provide opportunities for her children. Her home was always open to relatives and loved ones in need of work, shelter, or support. Countless family members found comfort and refuge under her roof. She also dedicated much of her time to charity work at the temple while continuing to help manage the family business and care for her growing family.

By 1979, she was the proud mother of nine children, three daughters and six sons.
During one of the most difficult periods in Vietnam’s history, she made the courageous decision to let her three oldest children flee Vietnam by boat to Thailand in search of freedom and safety. After learning they had arrived safely, she allowed two more children to escape by boat to Malaysia. Months later, with extraordinary bravery and determination, she herself fled Vietnam with her remaining four children and safely reached a refugee camp in Malaysia, while her husband stayed behind to divert suspicion from local authorities and neighborhood watchers.

In 1980, she arrived in the United States with her children and began rebuilding life from nothing. The family first settled in Citrus Heights, California. Her husband was finally able to escape Vietnam and reunite with the family after arriving in Thailand in 1984.

As a mother raising nine children largely on her own in a new country, she carried enormous responsibilities with grace and strength. She cooked, cleaned, cared for her children, and late into the night quietly worked at her sewing machine making clothes for others. Dollar by dollar, through sacrifice and perseverance, she saved enough money to purchase her first home where the family later moved to Rancho Cordova, California.

Becoming a grandmother brought tremendous joy to her life. At the age of 54 she welcomed her first granddaughter, followed by many more beloved grandchildren. She lovingly helped care for them from infancy through school age, surrounding them with warmth, tenderness, and unconditional love. Her love of gardening, flowers, and animals reflected her gentle and nurturing spirit.

She had 13 grandchildren, all of whom adored her deeply. Her warm smile, welcoming arms, comforting hugs, and quiet strength touched everyone who knew her. She leaves behind a family forever grateful for her sacrifices, courage, wisdom, and endless love. Her bravery gave all of us the opportunity for a better life. Her legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, and all those whose lives she touched.

She will be deeply missed and forever loved.