Jeanne, as she preferred to be known, suffered the last five years from osteoporosis in her spine, and from dementia. She fought valiantly but eventually her body could resist no longer. Now she is beyond all pain and is reunited with family and friends who have preceded her.
Childhood struggles in Vietnam during World War II and the war with the French made her very strong in body and mind, shaping her spirit and courage for all time. She succeeded in becoming very self-sufficient and independent throughout her life. Jeanne also achieved United States citizenship in 1976 during our Bicentennial Year.
Brave enough to leave her homeland for the United States to join husband Larry and to begin a new life, Jeanne knew she needed to learn a marketable skill to help support her venture into the new world. Having prepared to tailor, she was ready to accept a position at Nordstrom's in Walnut Creek when it opened in 1984. Jeanne was proud to serve there over thirty years and to have helped train many others in the fine art of alterations to finished garments. She formed many enduring friendships at Nordstrom's over the years and really enjoyed each of them.
Jeanne loved to travel and experience so many of life's blessings. Travels took her back to Vietnam many times; there were cruises to the Bahamas and Hawaii; and tours in Europe and China. Stateside she was blessed with the ability to visit New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, Reno, San Francisco, Dallas, and Honolulu. Despite her wanderlust she always became homesick for California within two weeks.
Anyone who knew her also knew that Jeanne was a wonderful cook. She always enjoyed entertaining guests at home to a large variety of Vietnamese dishes. Potluck lunches at the Nordstrom Alteration Shop involved dishes from many different countries and Jeanne got the recipes from her co-workers so she could imitate them and even try to improve them.
Jeanne is survived by her loving husband Larry, son Kelly, granddaughter Victoria, and grandson Kelvin. She will also be missed by her many relatives in Vietnam and America who are too many to be identified here. Jeanne also will be missed by many friends all over her adopted homeland, the United States.
Jeanne would want to commend all the staff members at Penny's Guest Home for her care during four months there, and also the extraordinary doctors, nurses, hospice aides, therapists and other support staff at Brun's House in Alamo for being her angels since late January.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the Pittsburg Funeral Chapel. Buddhist services Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 10:00am at the Pittsburg Funeral Chapel. Burial following at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Concord.