Ha To Tran

Ha To Tran, age 83, of Maynard, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 24, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. He was the loving husband of fifty-two years to Hing (Tang) Tran.

Born in Guangzhou, China on June 5, 1934, he was the son of the late Ho Chen and Pui (Lau) Chen. He was raised and educated in China. Ha and Hing married on July 16, 1965. They took a big risk to ensure their children could have a better life, by leaving Vietnam with the entire family on a small fishing boat in the middle of the night with 316 other people (as part of the so called "boat people" exits, post the fall of Saigon). After two years in the refugee camps between Malaysia and the Philippines, they made it to the United States and settled in Maynard. Ha worked at the Leather Shop in Concord, MA for ten years retiring in 1995 to stay home and help raise his grandchildren. Family was most important to Ha. He loved celebrating the holidays and sitting down as a family for a big meal.

He is survived by his wife, Hing Tran of Maynard, MA; his children, Ken Chen and wife Sonya Giang of Maynard, Ma; Michael Chen and wife Shelly Giang-Chen of Franklin Lakes NJ; Ling Wing and husband Melvyn of Natick, MA; Kong Chen and wife Megan of Acton, MA; Alana and husband Teddy McLaughlin of Maynard, MA; Mai Chen and husband Kevin Taube of Salem, NH; and twelve grandchildren.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Ha on Thursday, December 28, 2017 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Fowler-Kennedy Funeral Home, 42 Concord Street, Maynard.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Alzheimer's Association 309 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452 or Help end Alzheimer's www.alz.org.