Con chao ong noi,

i wish you a safe journey to the afterlife, that you will find happiness and prosperity where you go, and that you may watch over us from above and be proud. thank you for being there for us, for all the smiles we shared, and farewell.

We didn’t get to see Ông Nội often, unfortunately. But every time we did, he brought with him a calming but comforting presence. As a small child, I remember how much he loved visiting our little garden whenever he and Bà Nội came to visit us during the summer. Seeing his joy made me happy, and I loved to see him come back home, fulfilled from a day in the garden.
Even though my Vietnamese wasn’t perfect, he truly did not mind and patiently waited for me to find my words. Our conversations were always very pleasant.

I will cherish the last time I saw him, two years ago, when we walked alongside the river near our house. It was early in the evening and it was warm but not unpleasant outside, as the sun was starting to set. What should’ve had been a 15-minute stroll turned into nearly two hours. However, time didn’t matter, as he passionately shared stories with me about my dad and my uncles, and how their lives were before I was born. When he ran out of breath, he demanded to sit on the edge of the pavement, despite my protests that a bench was just a few minutes away. 
I particularly remember how he laughed and waved my concerns away when I warned him to watch his step crossing the cattle grid. Slowly but steadily, he made his way across with a big smile on his face. That moment, now a cherished memory, perhaps also symbolizes the obstacles Ông Nội faced, and how he met each one with resilience.

I always had in mind that I would have the chance to talk with him again in the future, perhaps when I finished studying and brushed up on my Vietnamese. I would have loved to listen to stories about his life and his experiences with my dad and my uncles while taking (probably shorter) walks with him.

Dear Ông Nội, thank you for the few but precious moments we shared, and for sharing my family’s history with me. Every cattle grid I cross will remind me of your cheerful spirit, resilience and wisdom, and for that I am grateful. 

Du Nguyen, your grandson

Ong noi Truong Van Nguyen was a wonderful and kind man. Along with being inspirational, he knew how to sneak in a little joke with his contagious laugh. He had a kind soul that I am grateful to have known and will cherish every memory I recall with him. I am truly sorry for his passing and may eternal rest grant upon him. Con cam on ong noi moi thu.

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Truong Van Nguyen

January 1, 1938 – March 17, 2025

Lima Family Erickson Memorial Chapel

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