Some love stories begin with a chance meeting, others with a twist of fate. For Don and Thuy Reber, it was both. Don’s best friend happened to be dating Thuy’s aunt, and through that connection, he was often encouraged to meet her. What started as persistent suggestions soon became destiny. “The first time I met Thuy, I was struck not only by her grace and poise but by her intelligence and the warmth that radiated from her smile,” Don recalls. Their conversations flowed with ease, covering everything from Vietnam to America to the world at large, each word revealing her wit, curiosity, and sincerity. Fate had made its choice, and the two have been inseparable ever since.

Don is originally from Mobile, Alabama, while Thuy grew up in Nam Dinh, a small village southeast of Hanoi, before her family moved to Saigon when she was five years old. Their paths converged in the United States, where they built a life together that blends two cultures seamlessly into one family legacy.

Over the years, Don has had a remarkable career. He retired after 32 years with Sears, Roebuck and Company, where he served as National Director of Installed Home Improvement Products. He then worked eight years as a Director for The Home Depot before spending a decade as Sales Director for Coastal Culvert and Supply in Eunice. Thuy’s professional life spanned banking roles in New Orleans, Orlando, and Baltimore, but today she pours her skill into a passion for alterations—specializing in wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and prom dresses.

Beyond their careers, the Rebers are full of energy and creativity. Don is a private pilot, a competitive sailor, a golfer, an oil painter who once co-owned an art gallery in New Orleans, and a woodworker who designs and builds furniture. Thuy is equally talented in the kitchen, where her meals range from American and Italian dishes to Vietnamese favorites like pho and spring rolls, all with a Cajun or Asian twist. “We never have the same menu twice at home,” Don laughs.

The Rebers’ love for life extends into their travels. They’ve enjoyed vacations in Las Vegas, Gulf Shores, Branson’s Table Rock Lake, and Cancun, with plans for Alaska, the Mediterranean, and Paris next. They are also passionate fans of LSU and the New Orleans Saints, enjoy reading and TV dramas, and listen to music spanning the 50s through the 80s.

Their family is their greatest pride. All three children are thriving adults with families of their own. Their youngest son, Brian, once dreamed of becoming a comic book artist and has achieved that goal with a career that has made him a celebrity in the industry. Their oldest son, David, is an executive overseeing multiple regions for Renewal by Anderson Replacement Windows. Their daughter, Mary, is a nurse with Ochsner and lives nearby in River Ranch.

Don beautifully describes their family as “an intricate tapestry colored by love, sacrifice, and the blending of worlds.” Thuy’s courage to leave her homeland and embrace a new life set the foundation for their legacy. 

Together, they instilled in their children a deep pride in their roots and a guiding principle: treat everyone with respect. That legacy, Don says, is now reflected in their children’s compassion, resilience, and kindness.

Today, the Rebers are deeply grateful to call River Ranch home. “Living here is about more than just a place to sleep—it’s about connection, comfort, and joy in every facet of daily life,” Don says. With great neighbors, restaurants, shops, and security, they agree it’s the best place they’ve ever lived.

And if you ask Don what the family’s secret recipe is, he’ll tell you it’s simple: “Love—a daily dose of sharing your thoughts and emotions, a mouthful of ‘I love you’s,’ a sprinkle of laughter, and a generous mix of ‘What can I do for you today?’”