Phong Thi Thanh Le

With deep sorrow, we announce the peaceful passing of Phong Thi Thanh Le, age 77, of Howell Township on December 1, 2025. Phong was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, lovingly known by many names including Ma, Bà Ngoại, Bà Nội, and Lucy.

Born in 1948 in Vietnam, Phong built a life defined by courage, sacrifice, and love. In 1975, she came to America with her husband and five young children, starting over in a new world with nothing but determination and strength that helped to carry her family through many challenges.

Phong was beautiful, inside and out, loving in her own way. She adored her eight grandchildren, each one a source of pride and joy. Their visits lit her up, and even when she couldn’t be with them, she kept them close in her thoughts, always asking how they were and bragging about their accomplishments. Her love for them was one of the brightest parts of her life.

After working in a greenhouse for eighteen years, Phong’s hands could grow anything; gardening was her art, and every plant she touched would flourish. She could also propagate just about any cutting—a skill that was truly remarkable to watch. In the summertime, we never needed to buy produce, as her backyard garden provided a bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables. Beyond growing food, Phong delighted in cooking for her family, bringing Vietnamese egg rolls (chả giò) and stir-fried noodles (mì xào) to gatherings. She also never missed preparing bánh tét for Vietnamese New Year and ancestral worship, ensuring family traditions were always honored.

Phong worked tirelessly throughout her life, never complaining and always moving forward with grace and determination. Though small in stature, she possessed remarkable strength, stamina, and endurance. Yet, after all her hard work, she also knew how to embrace joy. She loved visiting the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City, especially to play her favorite game—Let It Ride. Even in her final days at the hospital, the mere mention of the casino lit up her eyes, and she would softly but eagerly say, “Borgata.”

Whether or not she tried to be, Phong was funny. Everyone who met her—including the nurses and techs who cared for her—would comment on how cute she was and laugh at her quick replies. Even in her final days, she found ways to make us smile, at one point even asking for a beer to be brought to her hospital bed.

Phong loved walking her late dog Kobe through the neighborhood, always pausing to greet and chat with the people she met along the way. Even though many neighbors could only understand parts of her broken English, it never mattered—her warmth and friendliness made her beloved by everyone. She also cherished long walks on the beaches of Sandy Hook with her husband Chi, and wished for her ashes to be scattered far out in the ocean there, so the water could carry her around the world and gently return her “home” to Vietnam. This coming summer, when the weather is warm and the sun is bright, fulfilling that wish will be a truly meaningful moment.

Phong’s final weeks were filled with what mattered most: being surrounded by family and love, both near and far. She left this world comfortably and peacefully, and we know in our hearts that she is now watching over all of us from above.

Phong is survived by her husband of 55 years, Chi Vo; her children, Hiep Vo (Mai Anh Vu), Chung Vo-Williamson (Jeffrey Williamson), Thuy Vo, Dinh Vo, and Phuong Vo-Schneider (Richard Schneider); and her grandchildren, Sean Williamson, Logan Schneider, Katelyn Schneider, Thien Tam (Brian) Vo, Alexis Vo, Avery Vo, Khang Minh (Adam) Vo, and Adrian Vo. She is also lovingly remembered by her family in Vietnam and Australia, including siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the nurses and doctors at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ for their exceptional care and compassion during Phong’s final days.

Phong’s memory will be honored in a private family ceremony thanking her for everything she gave, everything she taught, and everything she was. She will forever be cherished and will never be forgotten.

Condolences may be sent to the family at: 7 Roosevelt Terrace, Howell, NJ 07731

• Services are entrusted to Jersey Shore Cremation Service, 43 Taylor Avenue, Manasquan, NJ - JerseyShoreCremation.com