Helen Cuc Bach Tran

With hearts full of devotion and gratitude, the family of Helen Cuc Bach Tran announces her serene passing on January 18, 2026, at the age of 94. She departed this life gently, completing a long earthly journey shaped by love, perseverance, and deep inner strength.

Born in Vietnam to Tran Van Xinh and Truong Thi Em, Helen grew up in a close-knit family whose values of resilience, generosity, and quiet determination became the foundation of her own life. She was the beloved sister of Tran Bach Mai (Di Ba), Tran Bach Van (Di Nam), Tran Bach Suong (Di Tam), and dearly departed Tran Bach Tuyet (Di Hai), with whom she shared lifelong bonds of affection, loyalty, and shared memory.

Helen was the devoted mother of Luan, Luu, Cuong, and Lap, and the cherished grandmother of Kevin and twins Scott and Kelly. Her presence was a source of grounding and warmth, a steady light that guided her family through the changing seasons of their lives. She offered her children and grandchildren not only care, but a living example of patience, humility, and the quiet courage that comes from a generous heart.

Her life’s path carried her across continents, from her early years in Vietnam to the new beginnings she forged in the United States. Like many of her generation, she rebuilt her life with determination, embracing unfamiliar challenges while holding fast to the cultural and spiritual traditions that shaped her.

Her fluency in English, French, and Vietnamese reflected not only her intellect but also the breadth of her lived experience. Even in her nineties, she moved gracefully between languages, leaving a lasting impression on all who cared for her.

Throughout her life, Helen dedicated herself to meaningful work managing a Travelodge Motel, a Public Storage facility, and the Emerson Coin Laundry. In each role, she cultivated a spirit of service. Those who crossed her path felt her generosity and the gentle dignity with which she approached every task.

As her family reflects on her life, they honor the countless seeds of merit she planted through compassion, diligence, and loving action. In the stillness of her final moments, may she have felt the boundless peace taught by the Dharma. And as she journeys onward, may she be welcomed into the radiant embrace of the Great Teacher, the Buddha, whose wisdom lights the path beyond this life.

“In this world, there are three things of value for one who gives. What are these things? Before giving, the mind of the giver is happy. While giving, the giver is made peaceful. After having given, the mind of the giver is uplifted.” — Dana Sutta

This teaching reflects the spirit Helen carried throughout her life, offering her time, her labor, and her love without hesitation.

In the Buddhist spirit, her family takes comfort in knowing that the wholesome karma she shared with her beloved husband, David Luong, continues to connect them. Though each being follows their own path through the cycles of existence, the bond of compassion they cultivated endures beyond this single lifetime.

May she be free from all suffering. May her next rebirth be blessed and filled with light. May her memory continue to inspire acts of kindness, generosity, and mindfulness in all who knew her.

Her family invites loved ones to join in honoring her life, offering prayers, and dedicating merit for her continued journey toward liberation.