Duoc Thi Le

Duoc Thi Le, Buddhist name Dieu Do, of Harrisburg, passed peacefully at the age of 89 on Friday, February 1st, 2013 surrounded by all of her children. She was born December 15th, 1925, in Hai Phong, Vietnam to Khanh Thang Le and Thin Thi Tran.

She was preceded by her husband, Van Tieu Dang, her son-in-law, Trong Cuong Hoang, and her son Kim Lam Dang (Quoc Hien). She is survived by her children, Ngoc Quynh Thi Dang, Le Ngoc Thi Dang and her husband Bat Van Do, Thai Van Thi Dang and her husband Tuan Pham, Co Ban Dang and his wife Thu Huyen Thi Tran, Co Bang Dang, To Vinh Thi Dang and her husband Hoang Son Duong, Minh Chau Thi Dang and her husband Viet Dung Bui; her grandchildren Quoc Huy Hoang and his wife Natalie Hoang, Nguyen Khanh Kumor and her husband Alan Kumor, Ngoc Anh Dang Do and her husband Tobias Matznick, Ngoc An Dang Do, Thu Pham and his wife Thuy Van Pham, Van Thu Nguyen and her husband Vu Nguyen, Thai Pham, An Vy Dang, Bao Nhi Dang, Vincent Dang Khoa Duong, Rachel Tuong Vy Duong, Ngoc Tram Bui, Tram Anh Bui, Anh Toan Bui; her great grandchildren EJ Hoang, Brandon Pham and Chloe Kumor, Ana Zoe Matznick, Thi Pham, Thuyen Pham, Thien Pham.

In Vietnam, she attended L’Ecole des Jeunnes Filles at Hai Phong and graduated in 1940. She spoke, read, and wrote French fluently. She worked for the Women’s Board of Vietnamese Patriots in Hai Phong. After marrying, she and her husband worked for the Patriotic Youth Movement Against Colonial French. She and her family migrated to South Vietnam in 1954. She taught at Hien Vinh Elementary School for five years before retiring to dedicate her life to her husband and eight children.

In June 1990, she along with her 6 children, 2 son-in-laws, and 5 grand children, immigrated to the United States to join her eldest daughter and her family in Harrisburg. Always an avid learner, at 70 years old she learned English and attained U.S. citizenship in 1998.

Being a devout Buddhist, she loved exploring and visiting countless Buddhist Temples in the most reclusive areas all over the world, including Chua Huong in the caves of North Vietnam, Tu Quang in Canada, and Giac Hoang in Washington DC. In Vietnam, she dedicated her time to charities that focused on fund raising for young children that were victims of war. In America, she was a constant comfort to friends and family, especially her children that always looked to her for her wisdom and support. Although, she is not physically with us, her amazing will and spirit will live within everyone that she touched.

A Buddhist funeral service will be held at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, February 5th, 2013 at the Neill Funeral Home, 3501 Derry St., Harrisburg. Cremation will follow the service.