Hélène Soester Dinh

Mrs. Hélène Soester Dinh was called to her eternal rest on June 12, 2023.

Her funeral service will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, June 23rd  at Munden Funeral Home in Havelock, officiated by Deacon Mr. Wally Calabrese. Interment will follow at the Funeral Home Cemetery, Forest Oaks Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends an hour and a half prior to the funeral.

Hélène was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She loved spending time with her family, and when she was physically able, she spent most of her time traveling back and forth to France and Vietnam to be with them.

During her younger days, she was responsible for caring for her siblings, being the oldest of 12 children.  She took them to school, returned home to do her chores, then rushed back to the school sitting at the window sill where she would listen to the end of the lessons. This is how she learned arithmetic, reading, and writing. She always had a sense of obligation even after leaving home. She played a huge role in her siblings fleeing Vietnam as she was the one that persuaded her father to fix and give up his fishing boat which was his livelihood. In lieu of this she assured him that she would take care of her parents financially.

Hélène touched so many lives in the most positive way as she was always there to lend a helping hand. She has a unique way of inviting you into her home and always makes you feel welcome and end up being family. Throughout the years, she sponsored many immigrant families.

When in North Carolina, she enjoyed working in her garden and was quite proud of her yard and all of the vegetables and fruits it produced from all the hard work she had put in. During her free time, she will be found on various piers in Atlantic Beach, New Bern, Havelock, and Beaufort, either fishing or crabbing.

She was a fantastic cook, perfecting her recipes every chance she got with family and friends for special events. She was known for her authentic dishes and special sauce, which she had created when she had her restaurant back when she lived in Guam.

She is survived by her son, René Soester and wife Phuong Soester of Clichy, France; her son, Jean Pierre and wife Laura Soester of Colombes, France; her daughter, Chantal Soester Dumaliang of Havelock, North Carolina; and six grandsons, Jason, Kylian, Nathan, Alexandre, Lucas, and Hugo. Also surviving her are her stepchildren, step-grandchildren, sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Phuoc Van Dinh of 22 years.

As an expression of sympathy, flowers are welcome.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Cremations, Havelock, NC