Le Thi Le

Le Thi Le was born to Le Van Tam and Nguyen Thi Tiet in Vinh Long, Vietnam. In 1977, Le married the love of her life, Nguyen Van Binh. They recently celebrated 45 years of marriage this past December.

In 1979, she escaped Vietnam on a boat with her husband and his family. Their boat was rescued by a Japanese ship where they were taken to Japan to live in refugee camps for two years. While in Japan she gave birth to two children, Anh Thao and Giang Thu.

In 1981, her family was sponsored by the Central Mennonite Committee to immigrate to the United States. Her family lived in Dalton, Ohio for several months before making their way to settle in Lincoln, Nebraska with the rest of her husband’s family who were also sponsored to America by other non-profit organizations.

While living in Lincoln, she gave birth to her youngest daughter, Thu Truc at St. Elizabeth Hospital. Soon after, she started a job as a seamstress at Tri-Con Industries, where she worked for nearly 30 years before her retirement in 2014.

Soon after retirement, Le experienced health complications and was diagnosed with Cryptogenic Cirrhosis of the liver. She had a liver transplant in 2019 and as her health was gradually improving after the transplant, her kidney started to fail her. Once she started dialysis her condition seemed to improve, and she was getting healthy enough to get re-evaluated next month for a kidney transplant. Unfortunately, she suffered a stroke and was unable to recover.

Le enjoyed cooking and inviting her extended family over to share meals together. She had gone grocery shopping on Wednesday night and was gleefully preparing for a family gathering on Saturday. She called her sisters-in-law to let them know what she was making and to not forget to come. She was not able to share a meal with everyone that Saturday, but all her loved ones did come to her bedside to say goodbye to her that day.

Le had an infectious laugh and eternal optimism. She often talked about the places she would travel to once her health improved. As a frequent visitor at St. Elizabeth, UNMC, and the Dialysis Center of Lincoln, everyone knew my mom by her first name. She often joked that she had to check back into the ER and ICU because she missed everyone there and how she would surprise everyone about how quickly she would recover and get to go home. Despite how she was feeling, she always managed to share a smile with the doctors and nurses who cared for her.

Le was preceded in death by her parents Le Van Tam and Nguyen Thi Tiet, and her brother Le Van Be Tu.

Le is survived by her husband, Binh, and by her son Anh Thao (Hong Chau Tran) Nguyen of Lincoln, Nebraska, daughters Giang Thu (Thomas Kaylor) Nguyen of Granger, Indiana, and Thu Truc (Michael Strickland) Nguyen. Most precious were her six grandchildren: Nhat Trung, Nhat Truong, Hong Trinh, Phi-Lan Scott, Ellie Grace Kha-Ty, and Ellis Thomas Loi-Tam. Other survivors include her brothers, Le Van Day of Vinh Long, Vietnam, Le Van Be Nam of Vinh Long, Vietnam, Le Van Thoai of Lincoln, Nebraska, sisters Le Thi Duoi of Vinh Long, Vietnam, Le Thi Mong Thu of Lincoln, Nebraska, Le Thi Mong Tien of Tampa, Florida, brother-in-laws Khuong Nguyen, of Lincoln, Nebraska, Benjamin Nguyen of Lincoln, Nebraska, sister in laws Thuy Nguyen of Lincoln, Nebraska, Hoa Nguyen of Syracuse, New York, and Thu Ha Nguyen of Lincoln, Nebraska along with many nieces and nephews whom she adored.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 1st, 2023, 11:30am -5pm and 6pm-7pm and Thursday March 2nd 9am-12pm, followed by the funeral service and burial at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 South 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68512.