Mary Vui Lê

Mary Vui Hoàng Lê (aka Hoàng Th Vui) was born into a devout Catholic family from K Sen Parish (now Sen Bàng) in the former Qu ng Bình Province, Vietnam. K Sen is a small village nestled along the Gianh River and the majestic Tru ng Son Mountains, a land blessed with many natural wonders such as Phong Nha Cave and Thiên u ng Cave, which are celebrated worldwide and recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

In 1954, when the entire Catholic community migrated to the South, the Sen Bàng parishioners dispersed to various regions to build new lives. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. Hoàng S the parents of Mary (Vui), and several families who chose to settle in à N ng City, joining the Tam Tòa Parish near the train station on Tr n Cao Vân Street. From then on, the two parishes shared the same faith community and regarded Tam Tòa Church as their spiritual home.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoàng S raised their two daughters, Hoàng Th Vi and Hoàng Th Vui (Mary), in a home rooted in piety and virtue. From her early years at Nh t L Elementary School in Qu ng Bình to her secondary studies at Thánh Tâm School in à N ng, Mary (Vui) was educated by the Sisters of Saint Paul de Chartres. Under their guidance and her parents' example, she developed a deep moral foundation and an unwavering faith in God.

Mary was a devoted daughter, a loving sister, aunt and friend, and a kind neighbor known for her compassion, generosity, and selflessness.

After passing the entrance examination to Quy Nhon Teachers College and completing her studies, Mary continued to be actively involved in Catholic youth and parish activities in Quy Nhon. Upon graduation, she began her teaching career in a Phu c (Tr i Mát), near à L t City, as a middle school teacher.

Following 1975, Mary moved with her husband, Paul Duong Lê (Lê Thanh Duong), to B o L c, where she taught at Nam Elementary School and dedicated many years of her life to the teaching profession.

In 1989, Mary immigrated to the United States with her family, first settling in Norwalk, California to reunite with her husband's family. Having devoted much of her early life to education, she aspired to return to teaching and earned a certificate in Early Childhood Education. However, due to financial circumstances, she chose a new path, obtaining her cosmetology license and working in that field for several years.

In 1993, the family relocated to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, where she continued to focus on raising her three children while furthering her education. During this time, she proudly earned an Associate of Science in Education, graduating summa cum laude-a reflection of her lifelong dedication to learning and excellence.

Later, Mary and her family eventually settled in Louisville. Once her youngest child entered high school, she rejoined the workforce as a quality controller for a local manufacturing company near their home. She continued to work diligently until her cancer diagnosis, which eventually required her to leave her position and focus on treatment. Shortly after her diagnosis, she moved to Washington, D.C., to live with her eldest daughter, Keri, and continue her medical care.

Throughout her illness, she drew strength from her faith, her family, and the close-knit and supportive Catholic community that had sustained her over the years. In the end, God had a different plan-calling her home to be reunited with her beloved husband, parents, and sister, and freeing her from the pain and suffering that she had endured with grace and courage.

Mary leaves behind her loving daughters, Keri and Ann, and cherished grandchildren, Isaac, Dalton, and Vivian, who will forever remember her determination, resilience, and unwavering devotion to faith and family.

She was a devoted and exemplary mother, raising her children to become responsible and compassionate individuals. Though she lived far from Vietnam, she never forgot her roots-always extending care, prayers, and assistance to relatives, friends, and those in need back home.

Mary (Vui) lived a life of faith, sacrifice, and love-a wonderful wife, mother, aunt, teacher, and faithful servant of God who embodied kindness, courage, and steadfast belief until her final days.