It is never easy to handle a sudden death especially old couples who have been together through thick and thin all their lives. It is understandable when an associate and a friend of mine DM who has lost his wife a year ago has decided to travel overseas rather than to stay at home to confront the anniversary alone. As he put it:
"This is an emotional and poignant time for me as I approach the first anniversary on ..... of my dear wife leaving this world and going to heaven. I felt I could cope better while travelling, so I am going to visit interesting places..............."
Death sometimes finds its way to "strike" when least expected and even in the midst of utmost joy. The news of an untimely death of a friend also came in the form of an SMS when we were in the midst of our tour in England:
"Just to inform you that my mom passed away peacefully (while we were standing around her praying) this afternoon. Thanks so much for praying alongside throughout her sickness. We are thankful for her and God's mercy in taking her home and ending her suffering these past weeks".
Her death truly evoked much emotion and memory. Both our families had spent good and memorable time together.
One of her students remembered her with these words:
"Death always has its way to appear in our times of utmost joy. This is God's way of reminding us of our time on earth. Madam Quah Mooi Eng was an inspiration to BB boys and she made sure we really enjoyed and understood the reason why we went to school. Thank you for making my school life and teaching life memorable. People come and go from our lives. But memories never fade. May you rest in peace Madam Quah"
One of the Ex-Fifians summed up all our thoughts:
"Yours was an ordinary life, extraordinarily well-lived! Whatever roles you played, be it within home or outside, you blessed countless many others by your Christ-like loving kindness and surely our Lord and Master is saying to you, "Welcome home, you good and faithful servant!" Truly, you fought a good fight, finished the race and kept the faith".
She, my wife and I went to the same university at the same time way back in 1973. We got to know each other in the 5th Residential College Christian Fellowship. Upon graduation, she taught and eventually rose to become the Principal of Bukit Bintang Boys School. We kept in contact even after graduation. Her family came to visit us in KK in 1992 and we in turn spent time re-visiting our old university campus in West Malaysia together with her kids in 1993.
Whether by coincidence or by divine design, she has a son named Sam and so have we. Both Sam's now work in Singapore and worship in the same church!
She will always be remembered as a person with a generous spirit and a warm heart.
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Mooi Eng, her mom and her three boys came to KK and stayed with us for a short visit during the year-end school holidays in December 1992. At that time, we stayed in our old house in Taman Kim Leng.
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From left: Mooi Eng's mom, Mooi Eng, 3rd son (youngest) of Mooi Eng, my wife, me, Peter Lai, Joyce (Peter's wife). |
Children of the Lee's and the Leong's
The two families.
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Re-visiting University Malaya in April 1993.
Inside a lecture hall at the Faculty of Engineering, University Malaya.
At the front porch of the Faculty of Engineering, University Malaya.
On the steps at the 5th Residential College where we once stayed.
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