A Memorial for My Father, Hiep Nguyen
Donation protected
On December 14, 2020, we unexpectedly lost a wonderful father and husband to COVID-19. Unfortunately my wife and I were out-of-state, but my mother was with him when he collapsed a few days prior. That was the last time any of us saw him, as the pandemic prevented us from visiting him in the hospital, even to say goodbye. He never woke up, but he passed peacefully.
This loss left a huge hole in our lives and turned our world upside down... going through his things reminded us that he was not ready to go yet, with signs that he had plans for the next day, week, year, and beyond. He was strong enough to survive having polio in a Third World country and escaping from war in Vietnam to build a new life in America, but this pandemic cut that it short.
After following the Buddhist tradition of prayer at the temple for 7 weeks/49 days, we plan on scattering his ashes. Without a formal burial spot, I wanted to have a marker so that all who loved him could have a place to share in remembering his legacy in a way that he would have enjoyed. After some research, I found just the thing - a memorial bench, something that anyone could enjoy and be a gathering spot for friends and loved ones. He was fond of flower gardens, national parks, education, and being near the water, so we'll work hard on trying to find the perfect spot, aiming for Coastal SoCal. The costs range from $5,000 to $10,000 (or more!), but would be going towards a non-profit entity to help fund their programs in my dad's memory (another plus).
So this is my birthday wish... I want to aim high and raise $10,000 to cover the costs of dedicating a bench (or other equally awesome memorial) in a fitting location, as well as misc. items such as transaction and filing fees. Most locations require payment up front when submitting an application, but if we ultimately don't install a memorial, your contributions can be returned to you or directed to a worthy cause that my father would have supported.
Hopefully you'll consider contributing as much or as little as you can, as well as sharing this Gofundme with others. Thank you so much for your generosity and support!
With love,
Johnny, and on behalf of my wife Kat and mother Tho/Nancy
This loss left a huge hole in our lives and turned our world upside down... going through his things reminded us that he was not ready to go yet, with signs that he had plans for the next day, week, year, and beyond. He was strong enough to survive having polio in a Third World country and escaping from war in Vietnam to build a new life in America, but this pandemic cut that it short.
After following the Buddhist tradition of prayer at the temple for 7 weeks/49 days, we plan on scattering his ashes. Without a formal burial spot, I wanted to have a marker so that all who loved him could have a place to share in remembering his legacy in a way that he would have enjoyed. After some research, I found just the thing - a memorial bench, something that anyone could enjoy and be a gathering spot for friends and loved ones. He was fond of flower gardens, national parks, education, and being near the water, so we'll work hard on trying to find the perfect spot, aiming for Coastal SoCal. The costs range from $5,000 to $10,000 (or more!), but would be going towards a non-profit entity to help fund their programs in my dad's memory (another plus).
So this is my birthday wish... I want to aim high and raise $10,000 to cover the costs of dedicating a bench (or other equally awesome memorial) in a fitting location, as well as misc. items such as transaction and filing fees. Most locations require payment up front when submitting an application, but if we ultimately don't install a memorial, your contributions can be returned to you or directed to a worthy cause that my father would have supported.
Hopefully you'll consider contributing as much or as little as you can, as well as sharing this Gofundme with others. Thank you so much for your generosity and support!
With love,
Johnny, and on behalf of my wife Kat and mother Tho/Nancy
Organizer
Gia Nguyen
Organizer
Carlsbad, CA