Loan Anh Tran Pham

Loan Anh Tran Pham passed away on May 6, 2024, at the age of 83, surrounded by her loving family in Newport Beach, California.

Born on January 17, 1941, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Loan Anh was born to Tran Van Hoang and Tran Thi Nhan. She embarked on her journey of lifelong learning and service by graduating from nursing school in 1963. The following year, she met her future husband, Pham Ba Thuong, and was blessed with six children from 1965 through 1973. Together they embarked on a life filled with love and entrepreneurship.

Throughout the Vietnam War, Loan Anh and her husband managed several successful manufacturing and agricultural ventures, forging crucial contracts with the United States Military. Their entrepreneurial spirit didn’t falter even with the communist takeover in 1975, as they established new businesses until they orchestrated a daring escape from Vietnam in 1977 with 96 others aboard a fishing boat. This harrowing journey showcased their unwavering resilience and determination, as they were eventually rescued by a Brazilian oil tanker and taken to Hong Kong, where they awaited asylum to the United States.

In September 1977, the family resettled in Hacienda Heights, California. It was here that Loan Anh, in a testament to her relentless spirit, returned to school at 36 to learn English and later earned her degree as a licensed Respiratory Therapist. She dedicated many years to her career at Garfield Hospital and The Greater El Monte Community Hospital, where her compassion and expertise touched countless lives.

By 1979, Loan Anh and her husband had achieved the American dream of homeownership, an accomplishment that mirrored her commitment to her family’s future. With every challenge, she showed her children what it means to be tough, nurturing them with a love that was both strong and gentle. She never put any limits on what she thought her kids could achieve and passed on her strength, compassion, and humor to every one of her children.

Loan Anh leaves behind a legacy of perseverance and profound love. Predeceased by her beloved husband Pham Ba Thuong, and her parents Tran Van Hoang and Tran Thi Nhan, she is mourned by her six children and their spouses, along with six grandchildren: Tien and John Martin; Quan and Diem, with grandsons Andrew (Chau) and Aaron (Diem); Huong and Rob Cox; Thang and Heather, with grandchildren Sophia and Ethan; Luan and Diem, with grandchildren Haylie and Miles; and Thai and Casandra, with grandsons Aydan and Nathan.

Her enduring impact stretches beyond her immediate family to her 18 siblings (Tran: Thu, Yen, Minh, Chuong, Nhung, Diep, Van, Man, and Quyen. Luu: Tam, Dung, Mai, Tong, Lan, Yen, Tuan, My Dung, and Kim-Chi), numerous nieces and nephews, and a vast network of friends both locally and globally. Loan Anh’s life was a testament to the power of a mother’s love and the enduring strength of the human spirit. She will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

A memorial service for Loan will be held Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Rose Hills Memorial Park - SkyRose Chapel, 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601.