Mau Lien Lam

Born on March 4, 1958 in Nam Định, Vietnam, Mau was the 10th of 17 children. In pursuit of a life of freedom, she and her family courageously sought refuge in Hong Kong in 1979, relocated to the Philippines in 1980, and arrived in the United States in 1981. Overcoming the trauma of displacement while building a new life in America required immense tenacity— grit that forged the incredibly strong woman we all knew and loved.

This same unyielding strength defined her final years. When her health began to decline in 2016, she faced her illness with the same quiet resilience that carried her across oceans. Even in the midst of her hardest physical fights, her nurturing spirit never wavered; she could still be found tending to her beloved garden and cooking beautiful meals to sustain the family she loved so deeply. Mau centered her life on her husband and four children, balancing her cherished role as a homemaker, working at a graham cracker factory, and for a short period owning and operating a local convenience store. Though she was a woman who didn't often express her love with words, her family never doubted it for a second because she showed it through her actions with her food.

Love, to her, was a quiet, constant action. It was found in the simple grace of her peeling or cutting fresh fruit for her children, or harvesting vegetables she had just grown in her garden to prepare a meal. When she discovered a dish her family loved, she would lovingly remake it over and over, happily letting everyone eat their favorite food for a month straight. Through every bowl of food and every meticulously prepared snack, she fed both the bodies and the souls of those she held dearest.

As we gather to celebrate Mau’s extraordinary life and enduring legacy today, our family extends our deepest gratitude to everyone sharing in our grief and lifting us up with your presence. Your love, comforting words, and support mean the world to us as we honor the beautiful soul we were so blessed to call ours.

Visitation will be held at Turner & Stevens-Live Oak Mortuary, 200 E Duarte Road, Monrovia, CA 91016, US, on June 12, 2026, from 9:30 am to 10:00 am, followed by a Religious Ceremony at the same location from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.