A woman in Singapore who lived a long life recently passed away at the ripe old age of 105.
Source: Shin Min Daily News
Having lived for very long, she had a huge family, more than 100 of whom attended her wake.
Madam Soh Lian Tee passed away on Tuesday (16 Jan) at 10.40pm, reported Shin Min Daily News.
The 105-year-old was born in Singapore in 1919, while her ancestors originated from Jinjiang County in China’s Fujian province.
Her eldest grandson Chen Qinan, 62, and 69-year-old daughter-in-law Huang Xiaofeng told the paper that Madam Soh got married at the age of 18.
She and her husband Wu Qingnian then had eight children comprising seven daughters and one son.
Mr Wu passed away in 1973.
Madam Soh worked as a domestic helper for families from the West who lived in Seletar and Clementi, Mr Chen said.
She never had a formal education and initially only communicated via sign language with her employers.
However, she eventually learned how to speak and understand simple English after working for a long time.
As she learned to cook mainly Western food for her employers, she also loved to eat fried chicken.
So much was her love for a particular brand of fried chicken that she could identify it by taste, her grandson added.
Though Madam Soh retired at the age of 60, she was active well into her old age.
She loved children and provided confinement care for her granddaughter when she was in her 80s, Mr Chen said.
At the age of 100, she was still able to walk on her own and cook, he added.
However, she was hospitalised for months due to a fall, and her mobility was reduced due to muscle degeneration.
Madam Soh caught Covid-19 in December 2023, Mr Chen said.
After developing symptoms on Christmas Day, she was hospitalised the next day.
While being warded, she was lethargic most of the time, he added, and the doctor suggested they take her home.
About three weeks after being admitted to the hospital, she passed away from a lung infection.
Shin Min reporters who attended Madam Soh’s wake observed that it was noisy, with many family members in attendance.
A total of 102 of them were there, including children, grandchildren and in-laws.
Source: Shin Min Daily News
Mr Chen said his grandmother’s children are between 62 and 85 years old, with his youngest aunt being the same age as himself.
His mother, 85, is the eldest daughter, he added.
Meanwhile, Madam Soh’s youngest great-great-grandson is just one year old.
Ms Huang said the matriarch’s greatest wish was to see two of her grandsons get married, as they did so relatively late.
She was appeased when they finally wed and had children, she added.
During her life, Madam Soh had a carefree and optimistic character, Mr Chen said.
She would often say that it’s good to “do things haphazardly and casually” and wouldn’t worry too much about life and death.
Perhaps that was why she led such a long life, he added.
Also read: S’pore Great-Great-Grandmother Passes Away At 107, She Loved To Eat Durians With Rice
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Featured image adapted from Shin Min Daily News.
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