Nam Thi Le

Lê Thị Năm (Bernadette), our Mom, beloved Mẹ, passed away peacefully in Olympia, Washington, on Sunday, March 1, 2026. She was 92 and a half years old. She was cherished by her husband, children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Mom’s love for her family was boundless. She fiercely protected those she loved, always placing their well-being above her own. She made sure we were safe, well fed, clothed, educated, comfortable, and happy. Her greatest pride was seeing her children and grandchildren graduate from college, get married, have children, and build lives of their own. She was deeply loyal and cared for her husband throughout their 67 years of marriage.

As a teenager, she worked to support her mother after her father was tragically taken from his home and never returned. Later, she worked tirelessly again to support our family when we first arrived in America. Mom’s passions were cooking and gardening. She loved learning new recipes and specially creating her own. Her greatest joy was caring for her family through the meals she prepared. She taught her children how to cook and wrote down recipes, but none of us could ever match her skill or passion. She also loved gardening, especially growing herbs and vegetables. She was always excited whenever she saw trees ripen with fruits especially the tropical varieties.

One of Mom’s most admirable qualities was her deep sense of gratitude. She loved God and was spiritual. We are blessed to hold many loving and cherished memories of mom. We were fortunate to celebrate many of her birthdays and holidays and witness her courageous battles through various health challenges over her long life. In her final days, Mom gave us time to grieve, to watch over her, and to say goodbye. Mom left behind a legacy of love, resilience, and devotion.

She is survived by her husband, Mr. Lê Ngọc Thiệt; her children Lê Ngọc Mỹ Phương and Chris Paul Stackhouse (son-in-law), Lê Ngọc Mỹ Trang and Trần Hữu Lượng (son-in-law), Lê Ngọc Quang and Phan Lê Lan Chi (daughter-in-law), and Lê Ngọc Phong; her grandchildren Andre Lê Stackhouse, Nina Lê Stackhouse and Shane O’Neil (grandson-in-law), Christina Trần, Michelle Trần, Simon Trần, Francis Trần, Elan Lê, Dylan Lê, Justin Lê, Elisa Lê; and her many nieces and nephews.