Sister Jane

Sister Jane was born March 29, 1939, in Saigon, Vietnam, daughter of the late Van Tan Tang and Loi Kim Lien. In her early years in Vietnam, Ngoc Que attended a school run by the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres. As she was raised in traditional Vietnamese ancestor worship, Ngoc Que was puzzled when school was closed on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Her father’s explanation in response to her questioning simply increased her desire to learn more about this mysterious woman called, “The Immaculate Conception.”

Later, when 20 years old, this desire led her to convert to Catholicism, taking for her baptismal name Jeanne D’Arc. It was not surprising that Jeanne, as she was called now, soon felt herself drawn to the religious life, and it was to Our Lady’s Order of Carmel, with its “austerity and silence” as she expressed it, that she was determined to enter.

As the Carmel in Saigon was full at the time, it was the Carmel of Nha Trang, in central Vietnam that opened its doors to her on Dec. 8, 1964. Despite her somewhat fragile health, Ngoc Que happily received the Holy Habit on Dec. 8, 1967, receiving her new name of Sr. Marie Theophane of the Sacred Heart. On Dec, 8, 1968, she made her First Profession of Vows and in 1973 renewed them. Unfortunately, the political turmoil in Vietnam escalated, and since her father had been minister of education in the former government, Sister and her family were forced to flee the country in 1975. In fact, the American plane that took her to the island of Guam was the last one to make it out of Vietnam.

In God’s Providence there was a Carmel on Guam and Sister was given a warm welcome by this Community. Here she would pronounce her Solemn Vows on Oct. 15, 1975. Since it was this Carmel’s custom to use baptismal names, her new name became Sister Jane of the Immaculate Conception. After about 15 years in Guam, health reasons made it necessary for her to seek medical care in the U.S. Eventually she discerned it would be best to remain here and asked to formally transfer to our Community in 1992. Before long, her great desire to continue with us her life of loving prayer in silent self-sacrifice to the Lord on behalf of the Church and the salvation of souls, led her to request a permanent transfer to our Carmel in Iron Mountain. Her joy was obvious when on Sept. 14, 1993, her temporary transfer officially became permanent. She experienced a deep peace to know she was finally at home here for good.

Short of stature, but possessing a greatness of heart, her genuine love for each one of the Sisters was very evident. Diligent and hardworking, Sr. Jane offered her many talents in service to the Community. Besides helping out in the Sacristy, Altai Breads and Provisory, her artistic gifts, such as making silk flowers and renovating statues, were put to good use. Naturally reserved, she was nonetheless ready to join in all the lighthearted fun and laughter at Recreation and could do her share of teasing also. She brought with her a good singing voice and it was a real delight to hear her sing Vietnamese hymns she knew, particularly a precious poem she wrote in honor of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception.

Sr. Jane experienced many challenges in her life and even more so in her later years. It was a privilege for us to share these years with her and to be able to lovingly care for her at the Monastery. While we will miss her presence among us, her gentle smile, expressive eyes and that totally unique way she had of speaking English, it is comforting to reflect that our little “exile” has at last reached her eternal homeland. We can only imagine her delight on seeing for the first time her beloved Lord Jesus, and Mary, the Immaculate Conception. Surely, she clapped her hands while beaming with happiness and said with one of her own original inflected expressions hard to capture in writing: “OH, so GOOOOD!” And then, turning to the Community, with hands folded in reverent prayer, adding with her usual heartfelt emphasis: “I PRAY for you EV’RY day!” Despite our sense of loss, we cannot help but smile as we promise our dear little Sister that she, likewise, will always remain in our hearts and prayers.

Sr. Jane is survived by two brothers, Vinh Tang and Augustine Hien (Ann Ly) Tang; and Dustin Tang (nephew); and three sisters, Anne Mary Mai Tang, Sr. Paula Diep Tang, and Alexia (Lisa) Lieu (John True Nguyen).

She was preceded in death by her parents, Van Tan Tang and Loi Kim Lien; four brothers, Ives Mui Tang, Louis Khoa Tang, Tai Tang, Augustine Vinh Tang; and one sister, Germaine Thi Tang.

A public visitation will be held in the Monastery Chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10. A Prayer Service will be conducted by our Chaplain, Father Peter Fosu, on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at the Monastery Chapel by the Most Reverend John F. Doerfler and Concelebrants on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 9 a.m. Burial will be in the Carmelite Monastery Cemetery.

Memorials may be offered to the Carmelite Monastery in lieu of flowers.

The Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.