Peter Hoa The Nguyen died peacefully the morning of Thursday, December 12 surrounded by family at his bedside. He was a devoted husband, Ba (father), Ong (grandfather), and Ong Co (great-grandfather) who left behind an incredible legacy.

Hoa was born on August 3, 1932 in Quang Tri, Vietnam to Hien Nguyen and Quy Phung, the youngest of 6 children. One hundred and fifty meters outside the back door of his childhood home lived his future wife, Nhi Thi Phung. He could not ever remember not loving her, and his dream of spending forever with her was realized on their wedding day: January 7, 1954. They proceeded to have 8 children: 7 girls and 1 boy. Their small home was filled with lots of love and food. By 1975, he was a well-respected police chief responsible for two hamlets. Occasionally, he would travel to Saigon to report in with his supervisors and this enabled him to learn about the comings and goings of American soldiers who were helping to evacuate the Vietnamese for months.

In April 1975, the Viet Cong were quickly encroaching so Hoa decided to uproot his family, determined to ensure a better and safer future for their children away from war-torn Vietnam. They started off walking for hours, leaving all their possessions behind, to eventually meet the boats that would help them flee. Their arduous journey across the Pacific Ocean took them through refugee camps in Guam, Wake Island, and finally Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. At Fort Chaffee, the refugee camp volunteers tried to convince Hoa to break up the family because it was hard to place a family of their size but he was adamant that everyone was staying together and had faith that it would all work out. He was right—St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Bel Air, Maryland sponsored the family and was instrumental in helping them get situated in America, finally getting settled there in December 1975.

As the patriarch of the family, Hoa worked hard to ensure they could be successful in their new home even though they didn't know the language, customs, or culture. He had taught himself how to sew and tailor clothing in Vietnam so he was able to get work sewing in a factory during the day and spent the evenings caring for his mom, sister, and growing family. This commitment to hard work and family was woven into everything he did in life. When Nhi's Alzheimer's progressed and she needed 24/7 care, Hoa agreed for her to be transferred to an Alzheimer's home with the stipulation that he went every day to help care for her, feed her, and talk to her even when she couldn't respond anymore.

He loved to garden, read, play dominos and solitaire, watch soccer, and eat sweets, especially ice cream. But just like everything in his life, his main passion was spending time with family and making memories. These memories are the stories that will live on and carry the legacy of this incredible man.

Teams of many doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals were critical to his battles with Parkinson's and multiple myeloma. The family is grateful for the care teams in both Maryland and Florida through the years, the staff at Lorien in Columbia over the past two years, and the Howard County General Hospital Emergency Room, Intensive Care Unit, and hospice teams who cared for him during his final days.

He is survived by his loving children Hong (Hao), Mai (Thai), Phuong (Anphong), Van (Khong), Trang (Kevin), Huong (Thong), Hung (Nhu Y), and Tram; dedicated grandchildren Binh (Marcus), Bi (Taylor), An, Linh, Lily (Jason), Giang (Nicole), Chau (Rae), Mai-Ly (Kenny), AnDy (Trinh), Dan (Stefany), Aidan, Cammy (Erik), Mylan, Quang, Rebecca (Curtis), Ryan, Vinh, Ai-Linh, Ai-Ly, Huy, Sal Jr, and Quinn; and cherished great-grandchildren Natalie, Andrew, Sophia, Ava, Emerson, Kennedy, Callahan, Nathan, Karissa, Kai, Noah, Mikayla, Zosia, and Finley; and numerous relatives and friends in the United States and Vietnam. He'll be greeted in heaven by his wife of 61 years; parents Hien and Quy; siblings Trong, Vong, Tuong, Tinh, and Ly; and granddaughter Ai-Vy.

The family will be receiving loved ones at viewings on both Thursday, December 19 and Friday, December 20 from 5-8PM at Duda-Ruck Funeral Home (7922 Wise Avenue, Dundalk, MD 21222). The first hour of each viewing (5-6PM) is reserved to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, December 21 at 10AM at Our Lady of Lavang Church (335 Sollers Point Road, Dundalk, MD 21222). Internment at St. Stanislaus Cemetery (6515 Boston Street, Baltimore, MD 21224) will immediately follow Mass.