Funeral services will be held at 8:30 AM for a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at St Jules Catholic Church (116 St Jules St) in Lafayette for Deacon Hieu Van Tran, 54, who died on Wednesday at his Lafayette residence after a long illness. Fr Thomas Nguyen will be the celebrant of Holy Mass assisted by Deacon of the Word Reginald Bollich and Deacon of the Altar Nguyen Bach. Music selections will be rendered by the Vietnamese Martyrs Choir. Prayers for Friday, April 16 commence at 5:30 PM with a Vietnamese Rosary-Mass followed by a 7:15 PM English Rosary led by Deacon Trans diaconal brothers in Christ at David Funeral Home (2600 Charity Street) in Abbeville. He will be buried next to his mother on Saturday afternoon at Forest Park Cemetery (12800 Westhiemer) in Houston Texas. Deacon Tran was a native of Saigon Vietnam. After the Vietnam War and several years of brutality and suppression under the Communist regime, he led, in 1979, a group of 51 men, women, and children, known as boat-people, in a courageous nighttime exodus from the port city of Vung Tau, on a perilous journey across the Gulf of Thailand to eventual and relative safety of a remote Indonesian island. He made his way to Seattle in 1980 and soon after to Houston where he met and married Loan Tuyet Doan, formerly of Saigon. Hieu and Loan moved to Lafayette in 1993 where they raised their family. After six years of formation and study, Hieu Tran was ordained as a deacon by Bishop Michael Jarrell into service to the Diocese of Lafayette on September 9, 2006. He and Loan are major benefactors of the Sarnelli Orphanage located in northeast Thailand where the Charlene Richard Mission House is located. During his years living in Acadiana, he was devoted to and served the Vietnamese Catholic communities in Abbeville and Lafayette. Received into the Kingdom of God, Deacon Tran was surrounded by family and close friends. He and Loan were married 25 years and have four children; daughter Lien and sons Jimmy, Johnston, and Bao, along with three godchildren; Kiet Hoang, and Nhi Bao Tran Doan. He is survived by three sisters and their husbands; Van and husband Van Pham of Houston, Man and husband Vuong Truong of Boston, Lan and husband Thu Nguyen of Lafayette; and by nine of Loans siblings and spouses; Hau and Trang Doan, Hung and Nhi Doan, Trung and Thuy Doan, Huan and Tuyet Nguyen, Trung and Mai Hoang, Hoang and Thu Ha, Cuong and Hang Nguyen, Chau Doan, and Phuong Doan. He was preceded in death by his parents Don and Muon Tran, by sister Mai Tran, a god child,Hien Minh Nguyen,and by brother Vien Tran, who was killed in battle on April 30, 1975, the last day of the Vietnam War. Pallbearers are Bao Tran, Johnston Tran, Cuong Nguyen, Deacons of the Diocese of Lafayette: Randy Hyde, Frank Cormier, Patrick Burke, Tuan Nguyen. Loan and her children wish to express their appreciation to Deacon Reggie Bollich and Mrs. Erica Dick for the love, care, and support rendered to Deacon Tran and family during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations in the name of Deacon Hieu Van Tran to Hospice of Acadiana2600 Johnston St, Suite 200Lafayette,LA70503 (337)-232-1234 Online:www.hospiceacadiana.com David Funeral Home of Abbeville at 2600 Chatity St. (337)893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.
