Khoai D Vo
September 23, 1935 ~ December 22, 2020
Khoai D. Vo (Võ Đình Khoái), born in Nam Định, Vietnam, died on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 in Fairfax, VA at the age of 88. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Joan Nguyen (née Nguyễn thị Bích Dzung), his children Hạnh (David) and their children Andrea and Olivia, Allan (LiFang), Duke, Duyệt and his children with Judy: Nicolas and Alex, and Hiền (Tim); his brother Vũ Đình Hân (Vietnam) and his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; and the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of his late brother Lac and of his late sisters Ve and Kim. He was preceded in death by his parents Vũ Đình Hoan and Hoàng thị A, and his brothers and sisters Lạc, Vê, Chi, and Kim.
Khoai grew up in North Vietnam and moved to South Vietnam to avoid communism. He had a storied career serving the people of his native country, first as a teacher, then as an Army officer, then as a diplomat for South Vietnam. In 1975, when South Vietnam fell, he brought his family to the United States and courageously started life all over again, working briefly as a building maintenance engineer before becoming a technician for Xerox Corporation where he worked until his retirement in 2000. Educated in a monastery during his formative years, he remained a devout Catholic and a beloved anchor for the family throughout his life. He enjoyed reading classic history books, playing with his grandchildren, planting fruit trees, building decorative ponds, and making sure every stake was planted solidly in concrete.
Khoai was admired for his sense of moderation, resilience, courage, and fabulous history telling ability. He loved to sing and play music, and encouraged all his children to study and perform an instrument and to rejoice with song. He will continue to be a role model in the family for how to succeed with integrity and honor, how to persevere through principle and method, and how to lift spirits when hardship surrounds. We will miss his voice, his laughter, his witty verses, and most of all his eyes when he looked at us.
We will honor Khoai with a viewing and prayer session on Wednesday, January 20 and a funeral mass on Thursday, January 21. Due to Covid-related restrictions, the viewing and prayer session will be livestreamed; the funeral mass will also be livestreamed but is open to those who would like to attend in person. Please see below in Events for livestreaming links and other details related to church attendance.
The burial will be limited to family.
Please, no flowers or gifts.
Khoai grew up in North Vietnam and moved to South Vietnam to avoid communism. He had a storied career serving the people of his native country, first as a teacher, then as an Army officer, then as a diplomat for South Vietnam. In 1975, when South Vietnam fell, he brought his family to the United States and courageously started life all over again, working briefly as a building maintenance engineer before becoming a technician for Xerox Corporation where he worked until his retirement in 2000. Educated in a monastery during his formative years, he remained a devout Catholic and a beloved anchor for the family throughout his life. He enjoyed reading classic history books, playing with his grandchildren, planting fruit trees, building decorative ponds, and making sure every stake was planted solidly in concrete.
Khoai was admired for his sense of moderation, resilience, courage, and fabulous history telling ability. He loved to sing and play music, and encouraged all his children to study and perform an instrument and to rejoice with song. He will continue to be a role model in the family for how to succeed with integrity and honor, how to persevere through principle and method, and how to lift spirits when hardship surrounds. We will miss his voice, his laughter, his witty verses, and most of all his eyes when he looked at us.
We will honor Khoai with a viewing and prayer session on Wednesday, January 20 and a funeral mass on Thursday, January 21. Due to Covid-related restrictions, the viewing and prayer session will be livestreamed; the funeral mass will also be livestreamed but is open to those who would like to attend in person. Please see below in Events for livestreaming links and other details related to church attendance.
The burial will be limited to family.
Please, no flowers or gifts.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Video
We will always remember Khoai’s welcoming kindness, smile, and love of family. Our love to Joan, Hanh, Allen, Duke, Duyet, Hien, and all their family.
Whenever I saw Khoai, not often enough, I was deeply impressed with his humility, sincerity, spirituality, devotion, and religious conviction genuinely exhibited, especially on the occasions of the baptisms of his granddaughters, Andrea and Olivia. There is no doubt in my mind that he is now in Heaven. He always impressed me as a living Saint. May his family be comforted by the assurance of God’s mercy and eternal love. Sincerely, Monsignor Kenneth Michael, uncle of Khoai & Joan’s son-in-law, David
Khoai had a special gift he freely shared with others. We will remember the quiet and authentic way he welcomed us and engaged with those around him, of creating a space where in his company, one felt both at ease and part of something greater and meaningful. We miss Khoai and celebrate his life well lived. Sincerely, Doug Michael & Kim Childs and family, brother and sister-in-law to Hanh Vo.
A candle was lit for the decedent.
My deepest condolences to your family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
My father in law, Vo Dinh Khoai, was a gentle, kind, and determined man who quietly constructed a resilient foundation on which his family thrives. We will always remember the stories, music, lessons, and joy he shared with us. We honor him now in the way we live our own lives.
Dear Ba, we plant a tree in honor of all you have planted for us.
Chung em Dai Nga va chau xin thuong goi loi phan uu den chi Bich Dung va tat ca cac chau. Anh Khoai rat giong ba tui em nen tui em luon gianh cho anh va gia dinh mot tinh cam rat dac biet. Chung em kinh phuc anh la nguoi rat mau muc, nghiem nghi, nhung cung co luc noi dua cung rat vui. Lan chot tui em gap anh, anh bao anh rat vui vi anh giong cau. Anh luon tim duoc binh an trong tam hon trong moi hoan canh. Chung em tin tuong anh bay gio da rat thanh than, binh an trong nha Chua. Chung em thanh kinh phan uu den chi va cac chau vi anh da xa gia dinh de ve que that su do la que troi. Xin Chua ban on lanh va an ui chi va cac chau. Chung em co goi nha quan de den du le nhung ho tu choi, ho noi chi cho 10 nguoi trong gia dinh. Mac du khong co mat, nhung tat ca chung em deu huong tam hon hiep thong voi chi va cac chau de cau nguyen va tien biet anh. Cac em Dai Nga va chau Quan
Keeping the Vo family in our prayers. Your father left an amazing family as his legacy. Prince & Dottie Simeona
Heartfelt condolences to the Vo family. He lives within each of his amazing children and grandchildren and for that he is so proud.
With much Love and Wonderful memories of Khoai Vo, Coong, Jessie, Anabel and Jonathan
Our sincere sympathy to your entire family. Such an amazing man will surely watch over and remain an inspiration to all those who loved him.