Thien Viet Dinh

On July 16, 2010, Thien Viet Dinh, went to be with the Lord after a long courageous battle of cancer. He was born July 3, 1925 in Nam Dinh, Vietnam. After graduating from the Nam-Dinh military academy, Thien served as an officer in the South Vietnamese Army. When the Communists took over the South in 1975, he was sent to the re-education camp for seven years. Right after his release, he fled from Vietnam and re-settled in the Hampton Roads area in 1983. Before he retired, he had worked in maintenance for the Catholic churches of St. Pius X in Norfolk, VA and St. Matthews in Virginia Beach, VA. Thien was an active member of St. Matthews and also of Our Lady of Lavang Vietnamese Community Church in Norfolk. Thien is well known for his kindness and especially for his religious inspiration. He always urged people to pray and prepare for an everlasting after-life. Thien is survived by his wife of 55 years, Thu-Lieu Pham; six children and their spouses; nine grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and godchildren. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at the Our Lady of Lavang Church, 409 Campostella Rd., Norfolk VA 23518. Public visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, 2010, through Tuesday, July 20, 2010, at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, 6566 Indian River Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23464.