Theodore “The” Vu

VU

Theodore “The” Vu passed away peacefully in his home on December 30, 2024, in Havertown, PA, surrounded by his family. He was admired throughout the Vietnamese Catholic community as “Bac The” and adored by others as “Teddy.”

Born in northern Vietnam in 1934, Theodore was the eldest of seven siblings. At the age of eight, he left home to begin his formal education in a seminary, which shaped Theodore’s formative years and resulted in a lifetime of purpose and devotion to God. He never saw his parents or siblings again. He fled to South Vietnam in 1954 to escape North Vietnamese communism, and soon began his work as a South Vietnam civil servant and activist. He continued his public service long after gaining asylum in the US in 1975, having escaped Vietnam on a boat with his wife, Lillian, and their two daughters. Theodore and Lillian were blessed with four more children after their arrival to the US.

For more than four decades, Theodore helped innumerable Vietnamese families reunite and acclimate to life in the US through his work with the Catholic Social Services and then the PA Department of Welfare, while working two or three other jobs to support his growing family. Even after his retirement, Theodore volunteered as a translator for the Upper Darby Police Department. Theodore also served several terms as the chairman of the Vietnamese Catholic community in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Theodore was a master of many trades and held everyone around him to the highest standards. He graduated first in his class, sang at top volume during Mass, whisked his wife or daughters around any dance floor, tinkered his way through all manner of plumbing, auto, or carpentry setback, pummeled his children at badminton or nearly smothered them (sometimes literally) with his affection, heckled every card game and domino opponent relentlessly, and created the best prayer books for every occasion. His trademark megawatt smile was outshone only by his sharp wit and warm charisma.

He laughed the loudest when he was with his wife of 53 years, their six children, and sixteen grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his father, Ke Dinh Vu, mother, Ron Thi Vu, and his brothers, Thien and Hau. He is survived by his wife, Lillian “Lan” (nee Nguyen) Vu, his children Nga (James) Vu-Thurmond, Thuy (Wayne) Taitt, HaLong (Sylvia Ng) Vu, Ann Huong (Will) Anderson, Laura Vu, Andrew (Karen Lau) Vu, sixteen grandchildren, and four siblings in Vietnam: sister Hoa, brother Su, and sisters, Thom and Tho.

Relatives & friends are invited to his Viewing Friday, January 17th from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at the D’Anjolell Memorial Home in Broomall, PA. An additional Viewing at 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM on Saturday, January 18th will precede the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at Annunciation BVM Parish, 401 Brookline Blvd, Havertown, PA 19083. Interment Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Theodore’s memory may be made to the Vietnam Mission ℅ Sisters of the Divine Compassion at https://www.divinecompassion.org/ (please specify the Vietnam Mission), or Sisters of the Divine Compassion/Vietnam Mission, 52 North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603.

Live Stream Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Annunciation-BVM-Havertown-PA/100064738871100/

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/event/395917

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