Maria Theresa Thom Thi Nguyen was born on April 5, 1930 in Ham Phu, Kim Son, Ninh Binh. Father was Mr. Thin Van Nguyen and mother was Mrs Lan Thi Nguyen. She got married at the age of 19 to Mr. Hon Minh Nguyen and together they had a total of 13 children, nine are still alive today.

In 1954, from the rural North of Vietnam she and her three year old son went to look for her husband who was in the military stationed in the South. After nine months of missed opportunities and hardships they finally found each other and settled in Bao Loc, Lam Dong.

Together here they started and established a home and business, bore and raised all their children.

In 1975, their four oldest sons immigrated to the United States of America and later in 1992 she immigrated as well with her husband and their youngest five children. Here in Mira Mesa she had lived and been a devoted member of the Vietnamese Catholic community at Good Shepherd Church until the last day of her life.

Maria Theresa Nguyen Thi Thom was a child of God. She had found the love for God and his words at a very young age. She had devoted her whole life to God and always tried to spread his words. She was a very strong woman, smart, most kind and loyal, courteous and fair, respectful and forgiving, very knowledgeable without the privilege of any education. She  always worked hard to provide for her children, always sacrificed for her family, always helped the church and new members of the community in every which way she could. She had lived a very simple life. She was probably the only self made millionaire who did not own any diamonds.

Maria Theresa Nguyen Thi Thom with her last breath was loudly and proudly praising God following him home.

Maria Theresa Nguyen Thi Thom was very well loved and respected. She truly had lived and loved according to the church and God’s words. She had fulfilled her purpose on earth by loving God and loving all people.