Today, God opens His arms and welcomes back one of His angels. As the Choir of Heaven celebrates the return of one of their own, let us join Mẫn and his family in saying goodbye to our beloved friend Phượng (Ivy) Nguyễn.

Today Phượng has victoriously conquered the pain of cancer. Her lung is now cleared, her brain is sharp, and her heart is full of joy. The earthly pain can no longer trouble her, and her wishes and dreams can now be fulfilled by the Grace of God, who embraces her and bestows upon Phượng her rightful place in His Kingdom.

From high above, Phượng is looking down with great favor upon Man, her beloved husband. She remembers his undying love, as he took great care of her in her final days. The loving memory of his changing of her soiled linen in the hospital, his tender whisperings of encouragement in her ears, and his gentle touch as he fed her dying body. In those final days, although Phượng could not express how much she loves him, she wanted to comfort Mẫn in recognition for his dedication to her, for being by her side, for loving her, even when the world seemed to have abandoned her. At peace now with God in Heaven, Phượng wants to tell Mẫn that she loves him, that her peace is now his peace, that forever more she will be his guardian angel, that she will be with him always through all the days of his life, and will bless him with all her heart. Even though her time with Mẫn was short, Phượng wants him to know that she has given all she could. She is asking Mẫn to look around him and feel her love through the presence of families and friends. And that she will always be with Mẫn through her gifts of Katherine and Tiffany.

To her two little angels Katherine and Tiffany, she regrets not having more time for them. She wants them to know how much she treasures their spending Friday lunches together, doing homework with Katherine, combing Tiffany's beautiful hair, holding them and kissing them. It was her joy seeing them grow up, and Phượng is so pleased to have been there with them. She wants Katherine and Tiffany to know that she will always love them and be there for them now and forever more. Each time they look into each other's eyes, they will feel her presence; when they embrace, they will feel her comfort. From now on, Katherine's voice will be her voice, and Tiffany's smile will be hers. She lives on within them.

To her devoted parents, she wants to thank them for giving her life, and for being there on her first and last days. She wants her Mom to know that she will bless her and ask God to grant her wishes. And to her Dad, she wants him to know how proud she is to stand in front of God as his daughter.

And to her friends and families, she wants to thank all for sharing her life. As life goes on, she will be there always as a true friend from above.

Today, God calls His angel home, and Phượng is in a better place now. Together with other angels, she is singing joyously,  "Be not afraid, I go before you always, come follow me, and I will give you rest."  While we all miss her greatly, we need to follow her ever-loving, ever-giving, ever-caring ways of life, that one day we might join her and rest in the Glory of God in Heaven.

May God bless Mẫn, Katherine and Tiffany, and grant them strength to deal with the days and months ahead. May God look favorably upon Phượng's parents and her family. May His hands be with them and grant them peace. May the peace and salvation that were given to Phượng ease our pain of losing such beloved wife, mother, daughter and friend.

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