Marie Thuong Thi Nguyen, resident of Milton, MA since 1993 passed away peacefully on May 20, 2023 at Massachusetts General Hospital with her beloved family by her bedside.

Thuong was born in Hue, Vietnam to Dai Van Nguyen and Diem Thi Truong. She graduated from Me Linh High School in Hue, Vietnam. Thuong held many jobs throughout her life as a religious youth leader in Phu Cam Parish, Hue, Vietnam, secretary at the Vietnamese Intelligence Agency Division, seamstress, and a cook in Vietnam. Upon her arrival in America, she worked as an assistant cook and housekeeper for Rose Kennedy at the Kennedy Compound, chef at SkyChef serving several airlines at Boston Logan Airport. She then got the opportunity to work at the Dorchester District Court so she could work down the street from her husband’s business. After 28 years she retired from her job as an Account Clerk in 2016.

Drawn together by their faith at age 15, Thuong met the love of her life An Ledang at a Vietnamese Catholic Youth organization where they were responsible for children with mental illness, special needs, leprosy, and from abandoned families. After 6 years of courtship, Thuong knew that An was the love of her life despite her parents’ numerous failed attempts to set her up with other suitors from more prominent families. An also knew that he had found the love of his life when he witnessed many acts of kindness by Thuong because of how much she cared for his mother who had suffered mental illness from losing her daughter. He was in disbelief as to why she had chosen someone like him when she had so many other options. All he could offer her was his unconditional love and commitment to care for her for the rest of her life. During their courtship, Thuong waited 3 years until An graduated from Military Academy before getting married in Hue, Vietnam on August 15, 1970. Thuong stayed by An’s side throughout many of An’s military assignments where she gave birth to their first daughter, Ann Thu in 1973. Two years later, they welcomed their second daughter Thuy.

Three months later, their happy family was separated in the midst of the Vietnam War where Thuong was evacuated to Saigon while An was held captive by the Vietnamese Communist Government for 10 years. Thuong resided in Saigon where she raised 2 toddlers on her own working odd jobs while hoping to be reunited with her husband. After five years of separation she decided that the best thing for her daughters was to escape her war-torn country by boat to America. She met the Phu family who generously took her and her daughters with them on the journey to America. They were temporarily stationed in Malaysia as refugees for 11 months. There they learned that they would be sponsored by the parishioners at Our Lady of Assumption Church in Osterville, MA. Thoung arrived in America in September of 1980 with her two daughters and resided on Cape Cod for 5 years where she was supported by several generous families (Rev. Clarence Murphy, Miss Kelly, the Mullin Family, the Cloutier Family and the Hallett). They were instrumental in helping them create a new life in America. As part of her acclimation to the New England climate, they reassured her that the white stuff falling from the sky was safe.

After 10 years of being separated from her husband, Thuong learned that he had escaped from the Vietnamese concentration camp where he had been held captive for over a decade as a prisoner of war. They were reunited again in 1985 on Cape Cod. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Boston so that they could give their daughters a better life and a fresh new start as a family. They both dabbled in several business ventures together as owners of a gift shop, 2 restaurants, and a bottling recycling business which eventually turned into a successful business. When not working, they devoted countless hours to philanthropic Vietnamese Catholic Communities who became an extension of their family. They went on many Catholic retreats throughout the world with the Vietnamese Catholic Communities to Italy, France, Australia, Brussels, Canada, and the United States. Their fondest memory was their religious pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Thuong was a member of The Legion of Mary, The Divine Mercy, and the Cursillo Catholic Movement where she volunteered most of her time serving as a group leader of the Movement.

She loved working at the Dorchester District Court as an Account Clerk. She made many amazing friends along the way. After 28 years, she decided to retire to spend time with her family as well as continue her charitable work.

She was known for being a great cook, having a kind heart, and possessing an unwavering faith. These, along with her warm smile, are what we will miss most.

Thuong is survived by her loving husband, An LeDang, her two daughters, Ann LeDang Sheehan and her husband, Kevan Sheehan of Scituate, MA and Thuy LeDang Collins and her husband Chris Collins of Canton, MA; her 3 grandchildren Aidan Sheehan, Grace Collins and Owen Collins, as well as her sister Quy Nguyen of Milton, MA, brother Lanh Nguyen with his 4 children of Hue, Vietnam and many cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family in Massachusetts, California, Georgia, Texas, Germany, Australia, and Vietnam.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, June 3, 2023 in St Ambrose Church, 246 Adams Street, Dorchester at 11:30 am. Visiting Hours Thurday and Friday, June 1 and 2, 2023 in the Dolan Funeral Home, 1140 Washington Street, DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS, 5-9 pm. Interment Cedar Grove Cemetery, Dorchester.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to any of the following charities she held dear to her heart.

• St. Ambrose Catholic Church
  246 Adams St, Dorchester, MA 02122
• Lovers of the Holy Cross Phat Diem of St. Louis
  4211 Hydraulic Ave, St. Louis, MO 63116
• Franciscan Charity - Helping Disabled Orphans - Hoi Bac Ai Phanixco PO Box 425120, San Francisco, CA 94142

Reception in St. Ambrose Church (lower level)240 Adams St., Dorchester, MA 02122 Saturday, June 3, 2023 immediately following funeral mass/interment.