Valley Oak Celebrates!

October 2025 marks Thu's 28th year as a member of the Valley Oak staff - something we are beyond grateful for and believe deserves celebrating!  In actuality, Thu has been part of the Valley Oak family for more than 30 years since she first started as an aid to one of the attending members back when Valley Oak was able to accommodate outside caregivers accompanying members.  Thu faithfully attended as a caregiver starting in 1993 and when caregiving duties ended, Thu stayed on, joining the staff in October 1997. She’s watched the program grow from a small group of 10 or 12 members enjoying trivia, puzzles, and coloring to a lively community filled with exercise, memory activities, art, live music and joyful connection.

Born in a small town in South Vietnam, Thu grew up in the Catholic Church with nuns, where she spent much of her childhood singing in the choir—a memory she holds especially close, and one that made her father proud.

Outside of Valley Oak, Thu is a devoted mother of five and grandmother of seven, all living in California, in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. She and her husband just celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary. She loves taking her grandchildren to the park, cooking them homemade meals, and tending to her garden full of fresh fruits and vegetables. She also cherishes California’s sunny weather, which matches her own warmth and energy that she brings to Valley Oak every day.  Please join us in congratulating Thu on 28 remarkable years.  She is a treasure to us all and we are incredibly thankful for the compassion and joy she shares with us everyday.  She is Valley Oak's shining example of what it means to serve with all your heart.