Ahn Le's Obituary
Mrs. Anh Thi Le was born on December 30, 1936, in Long An province,
Vietnam. From a young age, she embodied a spirit of compassion,
generosity, and warmth that touched everyone she met. She married at
the age of 21 to Mr. Thu Duong and shortly after, had eight children,
creating a loving and full home.
Along with her husband, she owned the largest paper mill in Vietnam,
which operated for over 20 years. Sadly, with the fall of Saigon in 1975
and the ensuing civil unrest, she and her husband made the difficult
decision to leave everything they had and knew behind to immigrate by
boat to a new country.
They arrived in the United States in 1979, and with their children, nine
people lived in a very small, dark, and cramped room in San Francisco,
California. As they adjusted to the new country, culture, and language,
Mrs. Anh Thi Le continued her environmental commitment by picking
up trash and sorting recyclables throughout the city with her family
every night. This became the beginning foundation for Cogido Paper
Corporation and later changed to what is known today as California
Waste Solutions.
Despite the difficulties, she lovingly raised seven children and built a
warm and nurturing home. Her deep commitment to the community
was evident through her charitable work with various temples, and she
found solace in nature and joy in family gatherings. She was a working
mother, a loving wife, and a supportive community advocate.
Mrs. Anh Le will forever be cherished in the lives of her 7 children, 25
grandkids, 11 great-grandkids, and 2 siblings.
Though Mrs. Anh Le is no longer with us, her love and memories will
forever remain in our hearts. May she rest peacefully, and may we all
carry forward the light and love she shared with us.
What’s your fondest memory of Ahn?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ahn?
Share a story where Ahn's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ahn you’ll never forget.
How did Ahn make you smile?