Dung Thi Dao

Anna Đào Thị Dung

Born: October 26, 1951 – Ô Môn, Cần Thơ, Vietnam

Parents: Mr. Đào Văn Đôi & Mrs. Đặng thị Ven

Beloved Wife of: Mr. Lê Văn Lễ

Mother to: Loan, Linh, Lam, and Lien

Passed Away: June 19, 2025

A Life of Courage, Love, and Resilience: Anna Đào Thị Dung was born in Ô Môn, Cần Thơ, Vietnam to Mr. Đào Văn Đôi and Mrs. Đặng thị Ven. Her exact birth date was not recorded, but she always knew she was born in the Year of the Cat. She was the second youngest of nine siblings—and the only daughter in the family. Raised in a very modest household in Ô Môn, Cần Thơ, she was deeply cherished by her parents.

She would go on to live a life defined by bold choices, unconditional love, and unshakable strength.

Defying Tradition, Choosing Her Path: When Mr. Lê Văn Lễ proposed, Dung didn’t follow convention. She agreed to marry under two conditions: she would not “làm dâu” (serve her in-laws), and the wedding would be paid for by him, not his parents. This act of independence would become a symbol of how she lived her life—on her own terms.

A Journey of Sacrifice: In the late 1980s, while three months pregnant, Dung made the courageous decision to leave Vietnam by fishing boat with her husband and three young children—ages 6, 4, and 2. Her husband urged her to stay behind, but she was determined to keep the family together.

At the refugee camps in Thailand and the Philippines, she sacrificed and saved—even trading water for money to buy cookies to bring joy to her children. She gave birth to her youngest daughter in the Philippines, and just one month later, the family was granted permission to start a new life in the United States.

A New Life in America: The family arrived in September 1981 and lived in Milpitas, California, before settling permanently in San Jose.

Despite having only a 4th grade education and no English skills, Dung helped her children with spelling, earned her Cosmetology license, and passed her U.S. citizenship exam. Her message to her children was clear: “Never accept ‘no’ as the final answer—go find the ‘yes’.”

A Giver at Heart: Dung had a generous spirit and a gift for sewing. She studied tailoring to support her family and soon became a sought-after seamstress. She even taught others in her village to sew Áo Dài and helped support her youngest brother’s education.

Even with limited resources, she was always willing to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate. Her kindness and compassion reached beyond her own family and touched the lives of many in her community.

Though her father once warned her husband that she didn’t know how to cook or clean, she quickly proved them wrong—becoming an exceptional cook, loving mother, and nurturing caregiver.

A Life Full of Joy: Dung loved to travel, and her passport tells the story: Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Korea, Cambodia, the United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Thailand, Hong Kong, and more—along with countless places across the United States.

She shared her adventures through photos on Facebook, always dressed with elegance and grace. Shopping was one of her great joys—no matter how tired she was, she was always ready for a shopping trip. She dressed impeccably—always fashionably, with perfectly coordinated outfits and jewelry. If her children liked a piece of clothing she couldn’t afford, she would sew an exact replica herself.

A Legacy of Love: Dung was joyful, compassionate, and full of life. She was the glue of the family—the one who brought everyone together. She was open-minded, loving, and never held bitterness in her heart.

She is forever loved by her husband, children, grandchildren, brother, cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends whose lives she touched with her warmth and kindness.

Forever in Our Hearts: Go with God, Mom. Your strength, joy, and love will live on in all of us.