Hieu Thi Nguyen

Our beloved mom, Hiếu Nguyễn, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2025. She had recently returned from a joyful, four-week whirlwind trip through Asia with family and friends, doing what she loved most: traveling to new places, laughing, and spending time with those she cared for.

Mom was the heart of our family. She brought calm, wisdom, and warmth to every moment. She accepted people just as they were and believed our differences made us special. She was our peacemaker, our quiet strength, and the one who always brought us back together. People always asked her for advice, and she was a wonderful listener. She was calm, level headed and genuine.

Mom lived with joy and curiosity. She reached level 18,800(!) on Candy Crush and level 6,646 on Soda Crush. She loved Thai tea with Boba. She could revive nearly any plant brought to her. Her garden was always full of herbs and vegetables that she would use to make everything farm-to-table fresh. She enjoyed regular trips to New York City to visit her daughter Caroline (Ngọc), cooking together with friends and family, and always finding something new to learn. She stayed active and made friends everywhere, from the neighborhood women’s group to aqua-fit class to Silver Sneakers at the gym. She took photos with every flower she met, embraced the latest tech and gadgets, and never turned down a good negotiation or game of Texas Hold ’Em.

More than anything, she found joy in traveling the world to be with the people she loved. Her heart led her to France, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Vietnam, Mexico, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Canada, Italy, the Bahamas, Hawaii, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, and even an unforgettable cruise through Alaska. These weren’t just trips, they were reunions, moments of laughter, and memories made with dear family and friends scattered across the globe. As her grandchildren grew, she lovingly took them along, sharing with them the beauty of both the world and the warmth of family.

Before all of this, Mom was a pioneer. In the 1960s, she was trained by IBM in punch card systems, RPG, and Fortran, becoming one of the early female programmers in Vietnam. She later worked at the National Bank of Vietnam, using her skills to help modernize one of the country’s most important institutions. Her work placed her at the forefront of Vietnam’s early computer age.

Mom was also incredibly brave. Together with our family, she made the perilous escape from Vietnam by boat in search of a better life. Everything we have today and the people we’ve become is because of the courage and sacrifice that Mom made for us.

Mom now reunites with our dad, Ngôn Trần, who passed away in 2002. Their love has endured for over half a century. We find comfort in knowing they are together again, sharing the peace they both so deeply deserve.

We miss you so much, Mom. Your strength, your love, and your laughter will always be a part of us. Thank you for everything.

Hieu leaves behind a devoted family consisting of her children: Vincent (Nghĩa) and Caroline (Ngọc); daughters-in-law: Christina and Alyssa; and three cherished grandchildren: E, O, and M. She is also survived by two older brothers, an elder sister, two younger brothers, and many nieces and nephews who called her Má 6. Countless friends and their children also lovingly called her Bà Nội, and she loved them all like her own.

Funeral Services for Hieu

• Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 28th from 4 PM-8 PM at Garden Oaks Funeral Home.

• On Thursday, May 29th at 1 PM, the family will host a vegetarian meal at Viet-Nam Buddhist Center. Please RSVP to Christina so that we can provide an accurate head count.

• On Friday, May 30th at 12 PM, the family will host a Celebration of Life at the family residence with a small lunch and buffet dinner. Come and go as you need. We would love to hear your stories of Mom.

For those who wish to honor Hieu’s memory, the family suggests a donation to Virtuosi of Houston, a cause close to her heart. She especially loved watching her grandson Oliver perform at their concerts.