Therese Nguyet Dinh

On August 27th, 2024 our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother Therese (Nguyet) Dinh passed away peacefully at home in Edmonton after a 5-year battle with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 87.

She was born in 1937 in Hue, Vietnam to Mr. Dinh Viet Thuan and Mrs. Tran Thi Quan. She spent her formative years at the renowned Notre Dame du Langbianor (Couvent des Oiseaux) boarding school in Da Lat, Vietnam where she made many life-long friends, perfected her flawless French, and learned the disciplined ways of the French nuns. She later converted to Catholicism as an adult, after being immersed in the faith through her teenage years at the school.

Therese obtained her Bachelor of Education from Saigon City University of Education (Dai Hoc Su Pham Sài Gòn) in 1967. Following her graduation she went on to teach French at Nguyen Trung Truc school in Rach Gia, Kien Giang. Ahead of her time, she focused on obtaining her education and pursuing her career as an educator. Not until her early 30’s that she re-encountered her childhood family friend, Loc Phan, and the two went on to get married in 1971. Therese then moved to Hue and started teaching at Nguyen Tri Phuong school until 1975. After her only child and daughter – Cecile Phan – was born in 1976, Therese became a dedicated full time mom and wife to take care of her family.

Loc, Therese, and Cecile immigrated to Edmonton in November 1990, sponsored by Loc’s sister Mrs. Sen Phan and brother-in-law Mr. Duong Huynh. To carve out a new life in a new country, Therese bravely went back to obtain a Bachelor of Education after-degree at Faculté St. Jean, University of Alberta, when she was already in her 50’s. After completing her degree, she went on to work for many more years as a substitute French teacher for both Edmonton Public and Catholic School boards. She also taught briefly at Tempo School. There was not a school in Edmonton that she did not go to, and knew the ways around the city by heart through her years of working as a substitute teacher. She finally stopped working in 2010 after the arrival of her first grand daughter to help out with caring for the new baby. Both of Therese’s grand-daughters were cared for by her during the first two years of their lives, and throughout their childhood.

Therese loved her family fiercely and selflessly. This extended not only to her immediate family, but also to her relatives in Vietnam and abroad. She was a loyal and loving friend to many. She never wanted to spend money or focused attention on herself, but instead chose to help out others. One of the ways she showed love was through her cooking, and her family and friends have thoroughly enjoyed her various dishes over the years.

Therese left behind her husband of 53 years, Loc Phan; daughter Cecile (Loc Chi) Phan, son-in-law Son Ton, grand-daughters Annalise Ton and Danica Ton; many relatives, friends, former colleagues, and former students who miss her dearly. She was predeceased by her parents and her sister Mrs. Dinh Thi Bach Nga.

We are indebted to Dr. Taryn Baise who was Therese’s family physician for more than twenty years. We would also like to thank the team at Kaye Edmonton Clinic Movement Disorders and Parkinson Disease Center who provided excellent care and support to Therese and our family during the past five years. We are very appreciative of Alberta Health Services home care, self-managed care, and palliative care programs that allowed us to care for Therese until her last days at home. We are grateful for her roster of caregivers – Liza, Letty, Chi, and Maninder – who have become like family to us. Last but not least, we would like to thank our family and friends near and far, who have visited, brought food, ran errands, and prayed for Therese and our family. Your love is felt and much appreciated.

To stay true to who Therese was, in lieu of flowers, the family would be honored to accept donations in her memory which will be sent to Filles de Marie Immaculée (Dong Con Duc Me Vo Nhiem) Hue, Vietnam. This is a religious order of Catholic nuns which remains close to Therese’s heart for many decades. The order provides vocational training, runs daycares and orphanages, operates free clinics and grants scholarships for underprivileged students. For more information about the activities of the order please go to https://tonggiaophanhue.org/on-goi/dong-con-duc-me-vo-nhiem/gioi-thieu-doi-net-ve-dong-con-duc-me-vo-nhiem-hue/ (to translate the page to English please right click and scroll down to “Translate to English” option).

A funeral Mass followed by a reception and celebration of Therese’s life will be held on Friday, September 27th at 1:00 pm at St. Thomas More Parish, 210 Haddow Close, Edmonton. The funeral Mass and eulogies will be live-streamed for those that cannot attend in person https://www.youtube.com/live/MYKZbFRyySc?si=v7bBkEZ8sAYeIXD3.