Le-Thi-Hue was born Sept. 2, 1936, in Quan Phuong, Hai Hau in North Vietnam. She was one of three daughters. Her parents and sisters died before she left Vietnam. In July, 1954 Hue moved to South Vietnam. The following year she became an aspirant in St. Catherine Congregation in Tam-hiep and served as a nurse-aide at St. John of God Hospital in Honai.

On April 29, 1960, she entered St. Catherine novitiate and made her first vows April 30, 1962, taking the name Sr. Clotilda. On April 30, 1967 she made her final vows and began teaching elementary school at Kien Thiet where she remained until 1970 when she went to St. Joseph School as an aide.

On April 29, 1975, after the fall of Saigon, Hue and three of her Dominican companions escaped from Vietnam on an American boat to Guam. On Sept. 29, 1975, she went to Camp Pendleton, California. A gentleman in San Diego sponsored nine members of her cousin’s family, and on Oct. 10, 1975, she joined them. While Hue was in San Diego Sr. Mary Goretti contacted her through a mutual friend, and it was Sr. Mary Goretti who told her about the Dominican Sisters in St. Catharine, KY.

After some correspondence Hue decided to join Sr. Mary Goretti in Abbeville, LA where she taught school. At the close of the school year the two Sisters went to St. Catharine, KY for the summer. Sr. Mary Goretti returned to Louisiana in September but returned to Kentucky for Christmas. On Dec. 29, 1976, both Sisters traveled back to Louisiana. However, at the end of that summer they returned to St. Catharine to stay.

During her first year at the Motherhouse Hue spent the greater part of her time learning English. In 1982 she began ministering to the Vietnamese at St. John Vianney Church in Louisville and later at the Old Louisville Day Care Center. During this time she transferred her vows to the Kentucky Dominicans and became a United States citizen.

In 1987 Hue went to Massachusetts where she ministered at the Rosary Day Care Learning Center, the Jackson Mann Bilingual School for Vietnamese children and at the James Hennigan School in Jamaica Plain. She also worked with the CCD program in St. Aiden Church.

While continuing an active ministry, Hue was a dialysis patient three days a week. After a kidney transplant she entered a time of Apostolic Prayer at Rosary Manor.

In 2004 Hue came to Sansbury Care Center where she endeared herself to the Sisters and staff. Always a woman of deep prayer, her gentle way communicated what her English failed to communicate. Her love for both her St. Catherine Congregations was great. At the time she transferred her vows she placed her Vietnamese Constitutions on the altar saying, "These are the first Constitutions that I learned and lived by." Beside them she placed her American Constitutions saying, "These are symbolic to me because now I live with you."

We are grateful, Hue, to "our Father Dominic and our Mother Catherine" for sending you to us, and we pray that now you are united with all your family and Sisters forever in heaven.

Many, many people were the recipients
of Sister Hue's knitting skills.

Click here to read about other Sisters and Associates.

Rosa Maria Mattingly, OP born to eternal life April 3, 2008

Mary Faith O'Malley, OP born to eternal life March 8, 2008

Catherine Gallagher, OP born to eternal life on February 29, 2008

Skip Bender, OPA born to eternal life on December 17, 2007

Sister Mary Anne Guthrie, OP born to eternal life on November 19, 2007

Sister Victoria Brown,EMD born to eternal life on August 26, 2007

Sister Gerorgeanne Sutherland born to eternal life on August 22, 2007

Sister Catherine Roby, OP born to eternal life on May 14, 2007

Sister Ruth Michael O'Toole born to eternal life on April 11, 2007

Nancy Guthrie McKay, OPA  born to eternal life on October 31, 2006

Sister Rosita Colman, OP born to eternal life October 6, 2006

Sister Olivia Lohmoeller, OP born to eternal life September 18, 2006

Sister Dorothy Briggs, OP born to eternal life September 12, 2006

Catherine B. Rose born to eternal life on September 7, 2006

Sister Mary Magdalen Henne, OP (Eucharistic Missionaries of St. Dominic) born to eternal life on August 30, 2006

Sister Mary Augustine Graninger, OP born to eternal life on August 17, 2006

Sister James Vincent Mattingly, OP born to eternal life August 15,2006

Sister Margaret Vincent, OP born to eternal life July 26, 2006

Click here to read about Sisters and Associates who died from July 1, 2005 to June 30,2006.

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