It is with deep sadness that the family of Dieu Do Thi Tuat announce the passing of their beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and Family Matriarch. Tuat peacefully departed on January 22, 2022 at the age of 103. She is survived by her 10 children – her son Tien (Du), daughter Chau, daughter Ngoc, son Tin (Binh), daughter Lien, son Hung (Lien), daughter Van, son Minh (Huyen), daughter Thuy, and son Quang (Anh), her 18 dear grandchildren and their partners (Luna, Linda, Khanh, Tak, Le, Tran Son, Thu Ha, David, Kimberly, Johnny, Albert, Tiffany, Trong, Le, Thuan, Charles, Harry, and Richard) and her 13 precious great-grandchildren (Olivia, Michael, Constantine, Brandon, Karen, Lily, Hailey, Ryan, Russell, Reilly, Owen, Leo, and Noah). She is predeceased by her beloved husband Dieu Ung Tho, her sons-in-law Duyet, Loc, Thang, and her grandson Cuong. Tuat is also survived by numerous extended family members across the Greater Toronto Area and Vietnam.

Tuat was born on January 1, 1919 in Kunming, China where her father was stationed as a French colonial levy. At age 1 or 2, her parents returned to their village just outside of Hanoi’s city centre. Raised in a middle class Hanoi merchant family, she has always been an active and cherished member of her local community. Tuat and her husband built a lovely home together for their growing family in the history rich village of Yen Thai, located close to the shores of Hanoi’s West Lake. Her husband, Tho, a former businessman whose French language skills helped Vietnam return the remains of fallen French soldiers to their homeland after the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, worked as a chef in the French embassy in his later years. Tuat spent the early years of her marriage at home with her children and later went on to set up as a vendor of sticky rice and desserts at Cho Buoi market.

Tuat was a survivor. Her dogged tenacity aided her and her family through the tumultuous first half of her century long life, surviving the Famine of 1945, the First Indochina War, and the Vietnam War. During the Third Indochina War, she and her husband bravely led their ten adult children and their families out to sea, leaving behind her cherished Vietnam forever. They left with few possessions in search of a better life, free from persecution and conflict. After a treacherous journey through a stormy South China Sea and a period of time in the Kai Tak North refugee camp in Hong Kong, Tuat settled in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1980. Tuat is forever grateful to the open arms and generosity of the Canadian people and government as well as the Elderly Vietnamese Association Toronto for helping her family settle into their new home.

Tuat had a fiery passion for life and was not afraid to voice her opinion. Living all her years in Toronto with her youngest son, she could always be found teaching her grandchildren important life skills, like cooking, cleaning, sewing and gardening. Every moment was a teachable moment. She also loved watching performing arts on television, the Food Network, drinking tea, instant cappuccino, or a bit of blond beer, and long phone calls with friends, her daughter in England, or family back home. Above all else, she revelled in spending time with her family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She spoiled the young ones with kisses, candy, sweet-salty preserved plums, and lucky red envelopes. She especially loved to hear them play piano. Tuat was a family woman, who showed great affection and always encouraged her family to uphold tradition and decorum. Her life and will to survive are examples of self-sufficiency, determination, and perseverance, all ingredients for a fruitful, bountiful life.

Family and friends remember Tuat as a thoughtful and generous woman with a big heart. She was reserved, but when she did smile or laugh it was truly special. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew her. Her family is grateful for the kindness and tender care of the medical and support workers who assisted them in caring for her at home over the years.

A visitation will be held at 4:00pm on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at York Cemetery and Funeral Centre, followed by a private memorial and burial service at 12:00pm on Friday, January 28, 2022. A live stream link of the memorial service will be available on Friday at 12:00pm. Due to COVID19 capacity policies, please check with the family if you wish to attend the visitation. The family can be contacted at cdieu88@gmail.com. The memorial and burial service will be family only in attendance at this time. Thank you.