Michelle Laneville

Michelle Tan Laneville, age 86, passed away peacefully under hospice care on November 22, 2023 in her home at Pacifica Senior Living Chino Hills.  She was born Tan So Kine (Dam To Queyen) on January 19, 1937 in Thai Binh, Vietnam, to Jerome Tan (Tan Tsin Lou) and Susane Ho (Ho Siue Ing).  She attended schools in Hanoi and boarding school at the Couvent Des Oiseaux, gaining fluency in Chinese, Vietnamese, French, Italian, and English.  In July 1954, Michelle evacuated to Saigon with her parents, her sister, Stella, and her grandmother by automobile 3 days before the communist takeover.  Michelle discovered her calling for teaching in Saigon, tutoring diplomats and teaching teenagers English and French.  In 1958, she was awarded a scholarship to St Vincent College of Nursing in Los Angeles.  Upon arrival in the US, the immigration judge assigned her the “American” name Clara, which she used until 1978, when she changed to her French name, Michelle.  Michelle concurrently pursued studies at Pasadena City College, where she met and married George Wong.  While their marriage eventually ended in divorce, they joyfully welcomed daughter Angela and son Pierre.  She continued her studies at Cal State Los Angeles, earning a BA in 1969 and a teaching credential in 1970.  She worked at hospitals as a floor supervisor and taught classes in English, French, and Chinese.  She retired from La Puente High School in 1997 as a French, English, and English as a Second Language teacher.   In 1976, Michelle married the love of her life, Richard Laneville.  Michelle and Richard traveled to France, Hawaii, and the southwestern US, and lived for short times in Colorado Springs and Hong Kong.  They loved to entertain in their home and to dine out, usually taking a photo to commemorate the gathering.  After Richard passed away in 2007, she focused her attention on her children and grandchildren, corresponded with countless relatives and friends, and studied current events via The Los Angeles Times and TV news.  She never stopped teaching her family members from her lifetime of knowledge, providing both wise guidance as well as corrections in grammar, spelling, and pronunciation.  Michelle was preceded in death by her parents, Jerome and Susane; her husband, Richard; and her brother in law, Swie In Tan.  She is survived by her sister, Stella Tan; her daughter, Angela Montgomery; her son, Pierre Wong (Jan); her step-daughter, Bonnie Pacheco; her grandchildren, Noelani Atencio (Jacob), David Montgomery, Christine Montgomery, and Nathan Wong; 5 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, aunts, and many nephews, nieces, and cousins.  A memorial service will be held on January 3, 2024 at St Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Chino Hills.