Nancy Banh

We grieve the loss of a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Nancy Banh (吳佩珍) who passed at the young age of 74 on May 27, 2024 after a decade-long valiant health battle. She was born in Vietnam on July 8, 1949 the eldest daughter of Van Ngo and Hiep Huynh and grew up with two brothers and five sisters. Nancy was a global citizen living and thriving in multiple countries including Vietnam, Hong Kong, and eventually the United States; she was also a polyglot who could speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and English. Wherever she went, Nancy took great pride in being Chinese and passed on her love for maintaining her heritage to her two daughters and three grandchildren.

Nancy was an honest and hardworking woman with immense pride and love for her family and community. While in Vietnam, she was an accomplished nurse but took the leap to the United States with her beloved husband Chuck Banh where she developed her skills as a restaurateur and acute businesswoman as the family moved first to the east coast before migrating to the midwest and, eventually, California.

Regardless of where life took her, Nancy was the family’s rock, building a supportive home for her husband and two daughters where she modeled and expected honesty, ethical behavior, and hard work. Health and food were her love languages. Nancy took pride in preparing healthy and delicious meals first for her two daughters and later for her three grandchildren all of whom were kept well-fed and nourished with meticulously cut kiwis, papaya, and mangoes or Cantonese soups lovingly stewarded for hours and stocked only with the freshest vegetables. Her grandchildren were particularly fond of her hearty juks filled with fish or chicken. Nancy was also passionate about her own health, keeping fit through a healthy diet and long neighborhood walks (always with a large hat to protect her skin; it should be known that Nancy’s skin was exquisite and wrinkle-free up to her final days!).

Nancy loved spending time with her family from her parents and siblings to her husband, children, and grandchildren often during large family meals either at home or at local restaurants. Nancy also traveled extensively around the world with her family during her fifty-three year marriage to her beloved husband, Chuck. Once her children were married with kids of their own, Nancy and Chuck took trips to Hong Kong, across Asia, including a memorable trip to Russia. At home, Nancy doted on her three grandchildren spoiling them with outings for dim sum, Korean sundubu, Olive Garden, and even Chuck E Cheeses! During those years, Nancy also continued to guide her daughters in their own parenting skills and enjoyed eating, and going to the spa with them. Nancy also had refined taste and spent hours with her daughters looking for the best deals on the best clothes. In her down time, Nancy enjoyed watching Hong Kong television shows and tending to her garden. From the outside, Nancy led a quiet life but still waters are the deepest.

Nancy Banh (吳佩珍) is survived by her husband of fifty-three years, Chuck Banh whom she loved dearly. Additionally, she is survived by her two daughters, (Christina Banh and Jenny Banh), three grandchildren (Alexandra Slusser-Banh, Maxwell Slusser-Banh, and Cameron Yu) and two son-in laws (David Yu and Sean Slusser). Our love for Nancy Banh (吳佩珍) will never die; we take comfort in knowing that she is now free to be united with her loved ones who have already transitioned.

A service will be held at Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary on June 15, 2024 at 9 am. Please join us in celebrating the life of a woman who was loved deeply and will be missed.

Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601; Morning Tide Meadows; Gate: 1, Section: 3, Lot: 1321, Grave: 3.

~ Vege Valley Restaurant ~ 250 W. Valley STE B-2 (2nd Floor), San Gabriel, CA 91776