Nam Hoa Bui

With deep love and sorrow, the family of Nam Hoa Bui announces her peaceful passing on July 15, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was 83 years old. Nam is the epitome of grace, beauty, kindness, independence, strength and resilience. She was nurturing, selfless and always thought of others. She touched many lives and will be incredibly missed.

Born on August 21, 1941, in Hanoi, Vietnam to My Le Hoang and Tuong Chieu Bui. She received her childhood education in a Vietnamese Catholic boarding school until the age of 18.She began her career as an elementary school teacher in Vietnam, which spanned her 20’s. She is very proud of her education degree.She was fluent in Vietnamese, French, and later English.

She had an older half-brother, Minh, from her father’s previous marriage and ten half-siblings from her mother’s second marriage: Khoi, Hoa, Tran, Truong, Dung, Mai, Huong, Hien, Tho, Van. Married to Hung for 20 years, then divorced in early 1980’s. They did not have children together. They remained amicable and he went on to become a father figure for her daughter in later years.

Nam moved to France for many years to follow her husband’s job and worked at Renault, a French multinational automobile manufacturer.Her mother sponsored her immigration to the United States in 1975. She held a few jobs while getting her footing in America, including working at the luxury cosmetic brand, Lancome, and the U.S. Postal Service. She credits watching American commercials for teaching her English.

In 1993, she began working for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a financial data processor for their Migration Refugee Services department. She started with the New York diocese and transferred to the USCCB headquarters in Washington, DC in 1995. She retired in 2007 following 17 memorable years.

She welcomed her daughter, Christine Namphuong, in July 1986. She was born in Manhattan, New York where they lived until her job transferred her to DC. They settled outside of DC in Silver Spring, Maryland where Nam raised her daughter as a single mother and worked tirelessly to meet all of her daughter’s needs and more. Christine was her greatest pride and joy. Nam supported Christine through her nursing education as she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and received her Masters degree in nursing from Research College of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri. She has spent the past 9 years working as a hematology oncology nurse practitioner at the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Nam and Christine’s enjoyed eating at their favorite Asian cuisine restaurants for lunch or dinner, weekly Target shopping trips, and have enjoyed many travels together to the Carribean, France, London, and Disney World to name a few.

Nam spent the last 13 years of her life devoted to her two grandchildren. She was a beloved grandmother/Ba and their affection was mutual. She loved singing French lullabies to both children when they were babies. Lincoln was born in May 2012. He was her “little prince”. They have shared many laughs, snuggles, and some epic (foam) sword fighting battles. Lucy was born in February 2019 and shares the name “Nam Hoa” as her Vietnamese name, in honor of her Ba. Lucy and Ba have also shared many dance parties and sing-alongs with their karaoke microphones.

Nam also enjoyed classical piano music and romantic French and Vietnamese songs, watching Kpop dramas, and eating a good bowl of pho.

She is preceded in death by her mother Hoang My Le, father Bui Tuong Chieu, and brother Minh Bui. She is survived by her daughter, Christine and her husband Joshua, and their children Lincoln and Lucy.

Funeral Service: Family and friends are invited to the viewing at Johnson County Funeral Chapel on Saturday, July 17 from 12:15 to 12:30 pm, Immediately following will be the burial service at Johnson County Funeral Chapel at 1:00 pm.

In addition to flowers the family asks any donations be made to Olathe Hospice House.