Co Ly

Co Ly, age 70, died of natural causes on May 7, 2022 in Aurora, Colorado.

Co was born on June 15, 1952 in Saigon, Vietnam. As an infant, he was lovingly adopted by Trieu Ly and Tang Tran as one of 12 children. In Vietnam, Co served in the South Vietnamese Armed Forces for nine years after having spent time as a fifth-grade elementary school teacher. In 1979, he fled the war-torn country by boat as a refugee and eventually settled in Colorado by way of Malaysia and Canada. Upon arriving in America, Co worked hard to overcome the language barrier and gained U.S. citizenship. He began working at the Aurora Public Schools, where he spent the majority of his career for 26 years. He also worked at Frontier Airlines and as an interpreter for the Aurora Police Department and Municipal Court. A skilled linguist, Co always enjoyed helping people of all ages translate languages among English, Vietnamese, and several different dialects of Chinese.

Co is survived by his wife, Tien Bui; daughter, Jennifer Ly; nine siblings – Tai Ly, Lien Ly, Khanh Ly, Phong Ly-Tran, Hue Ly, Hien Ly, Constance Nguy, Thanh Ly, Nga To and their respective spouses, who all reside in the California Bay Area, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Co will be remembered for his warmth, humor and smile as well his propensity to help those he met.

A Buddhist service will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Horan & McConaty Funeral Services, with a cremation to follow. Visitation is from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Co Ly’s final resting place will be in his home country of Vietnam.

Flowers and condolences may be sent to:

Horan & McConaty Funeral Services

11150 East Dartmouth Ave

Aurora, Colorado 80014