Here’s a tribute by Junius, to his late grandmother (with some insights as to how life was like in Singapore in pre and post-Independent Singapore):

“My grandmother Mdm Soh Chwee Lian was from Sambu island, Indonesia…. Life was hard for my grandmother and so she had to remarry for the sake of her young children…”

My grandmother Mdm Soh Chwee Lian was from Sambu island, Indonesia.

She came to Singapore with her family and siblings in the late 1920s and was married to my first grandfather Lim, who was a carpenter, at the age of 18. The family was staying in an attap house along Thomson Road, near where Lakeview is currently. Things turned for the worse for her family in 1945/6 when my grandfather fell sick and passed away, leaving behind my mom who was six years old, my aunties, two years her junior and my uncle Thomas who was still in my grandmother’s womb.

Life was hard for my grandmother and so she had to remarry for the sake of her young children. She married my second grandfather Goh, who was also a carpenter, and gave birth to my second uncle and third auntie. Grandma helped out in the family as a washer lady for a rich family. My mom and second auntie also quit school to help support the family after few years of primary education. They worked as washer ladies as well. They would wash and iron clothes for rich families. At times, they would also help carry water at 5 cents per two buckets. The whole family stayed in an attap house at Geylang Lorong 25. There were two rooms, one for the boys and the other for the girls. The place was always flooded and was a fire hazard. I remember my dad mentioning that on his wedding day it was raining cats and dogs, so the house was flooded. So my mom, the bride, had to carry her wedding gown high up to prevent it soaking in the muddy water.

Grandma Soh cares very much for all the children. When my dad wanted to marry my mom, she checked if my dad is a sensible guy. Thank goodness he passed the test, otherwise I will not be posting this entry today! Also when my second uncle Benny had problem with his studies, she begged hard to the principal for help. My uncle Benny never disappointed her and completed his secondary education.

From Geylang, the family later resettled to Toa Payoh Lorong 7 Block 5, followed by Block 17 and finally to Joo Seng Road Block 10. Grandma Soh has seen the transition of Singapore from the rural colony to modern city. She has stayed in an attap house, moving up to a HDB 2-room flat, then to a 3-room flat and finally to a 5-room flat.

Grandma’s unconditional love for the family was greatly appreciated, and this can be seen from the filial piety of my uncles and aunties. My generation cherishes these Asian values, passed down by my Grandma. In turn, we hope to pass them on to our future generation.

Grandma Soh passed away peacefully on the 12 April 2006 at 3.33am and was cremated at 3pm on 16 April 2006.