Paul Winston Quyen B. Phan

Paul Quyen “Winston” Phan was born on May 15, 1973, to our parents, Hong-Lien Nguyen and Trac Ba Phan. He was their second son, their fifth child, and from the very beginning, he carried a quiet grace that set him apart. Sadly, God took him away sometimes in the early hours of December 15, 2025.

Most of you in this room are surprised to see “Paul” to his full name. In our Vietnamese Catholic tradition, children are often given the name of their godparent’s saint name. Winston was given the saint’s name of “Paul” by my parents. My father told me that when he laid eyes of his new son, he knew he was a “Paul”. My dad saw the spirit of Saint Paul reflected in him, humble, gentle, patient, and kind, but yet assertive, courageous and resistant. And truly, that is who Winston was, a man whose heart was always turned toward others.

On the day of his passing, my siblings, myself and cousins received many calls. Some in disbelief and some sending their condolences. Later in the night, holding on to Winston’s phone, I answered a call from Winston’s phone. A young man introduced himself as Hoang and was stumbling on his words. It took a while for him to finished a complete sentence. He apologized for intruding on our grief, and told me that Winston hired him three years ago. He had to share how deeply Winston had touched his life. Winston was like a father to him. That was just one of many calls we received that day…. with similar stories. He was like a father & friend to many of his friends’ children. Not too long ago, on a Sunday morning, he told me that he had already changed, and fed my dad. Could I watch dad for two hours? He had to take Christian and Salina’s kids to church. My brother was always dependable, kind and well loved by everyone.

To us, Winston was more than a brother or cousin. He was a constant presence, a steady hand in our family. When our mother passed away in May 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, Winston gave up his bachelor life in upper Dallas to move in with our father to care for him in the suburb of Garland. What a shift in his lifestyle?! Every morning, in his gentle voice, he would ask my dad, “Ba khoe khong, ba?”, meaning “How are you feeling today, dad?” in Vietnamese. My dad is like Winston, never complained about anything, always replied back with a smile, “I am feeling well, son”. He cared for our father with devotion, making sure he was bathed, fed, and comforted. And every night, before bed, Winston would tell him, “Sleep well, Dad.” That was the kind of son, the kind of brother, the kind of cousin and the kind of friend he was. Winston was TRULY A GREAT PERSON.

Our family is just a middle-class family, live in a modest home, does not have hundreds of degrees hanging on the wall or have luxury cars in the driveway…well, except for Winston; Winston worked hard, but play harder. We have what most family wished for… boundless, deep and limitless love for each other. We were brought up to #1, Love GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS and #2, LOVE EACH OTHER. When I say each other, I don’t mean just my siblings, I meant love our cousins as our siblings and your aunts and uncle as you love our parents. Love each other as one unit, one family. Winston lived by this rule. Love GOD. Accept the plans GOD had in place for him and LOVE your family. That’s how my grandparents and parents raised us.

Winston had a gift for leaving an impression on everyone he met. Through his kindness, his generosity, his strength, and his quiet presence, he made people feel seen and valued. He showed up when it mattered. He gave of himself without hesitation. Even in life’s hardest moments, his heart remained open, always wishing the best for others.

Though our hearts ache with his absence, we are filled with gratitude. Grateful for the years we shared, the memories we carry, and the love that will never fade. His spirit lives on in our stories, in our laughter, and in the love, we continue to hold for him.

Saying goodbye will never be easy. But we take comfort in knowing that Winston’s life had meaning, his presence made a difference, and his memory will remain with us always.

Rest in peace, and sleep well my dear brother. You were loved more than you ever know, and you will be missed beyond what words can express.

A visitation for family and friends will be held at Sparkman Funeral Home, located at 1029 South Greenville Ave, Richardson, TX 75081, on December 21, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The funeral service is scheduled for December 22, 2025, from 1:30 pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church, situated at 600 South Jupiter Road, Richardson, TX 75081.

A private cremation will take place for Quyen.

In addition, if you or someone you know wishes to send a floral condolence to the Phan family in his honor, you may choose InBloom Flowers at 972-256-6637 or visit their website at www.inbloomsympathyflowers.com