Remembering the 5 oldest known S’poreans who lived to over 110 years old

The remarkable long lives of 5 Singaporean supercentenarians

In his National Day Rally speech on 17 Aug 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong talked about the implications of a rapidly ageing society in Singapore.

He said that 20 years ago, there were 400 people in Singapore aged 100 older.

But did you know that Singapore is also home to residents who were more than 110 years old?  They are known as supercentenarians.

Beyond witnessing the transformation of Singapore from a British trading port, some of these supercentenarians have also made a huge impact in Singapore’s society.

1. Yam Karicho — The Choa Chu Kang resident who outlived four husbands

Born in 1863 on Java Island, Indonesia, Yam Karicho was an Indonesian-Singaporean supercentenarian who is believed to be born between 26 Feb and 10 March.

According to an article by the Straits Times, she emigrated to Singapore at age 24, when Bukit Timah was still an unsettled jungle.

Mdm Karicho reportedly married four times but had no children and even survived all of her husbands.

In the last few years of her life, Mdm Karicho moved in to a small hut in Kampung Bereh near Choa Chu Kang.

While she lived independently with only a black cat as her only constant companion, the kampung spirit was well and truly alive at the time.

The elderly widow was still taken care of by her neighbours, who bought food for her with the S$43 she received from the Social Welfare Department each month.

In the week before her passing, she fell ill and was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital by her neighbours.

In Aug 1977, Mdm Karicho passed away in the hospital at the age of 114.

Decades even after her passing, she is still considered the oldest living Singaporean on record.

2. Teresa Hsu Chih — The nurse who devoted her life to helping others

Teresa Hsu Chih, or commonly known as Teresa Hsu, was known affectionately as “Singapore’s Mother Teresa”.

Born in Shantou, Guangdong, on 7 July 1898, Mdm Hsu did not have an easy start to life.

When she was young, her father walked out of the family for another woman, leaving her illiterate mother to take care of her three daughters and single son singlehandedly.

The family lived in poverty and eventually moved to Penang, Malaya, where Mdm Hsu and her mother worked as cleaners in a convent.

Mdm Hsu was 17 years old at the time, with no formal education.

Not wanting to be a cleaner all her life, she eventually passed her Senior Cambridge examinations after convincing the nuns to let her attend the children’s lessons.

Mdm Hsu moved to Hong Kong in 1933, where she diligently studied English at night while working as a cleaner during the day.

It was after witnessing the violence of the Sino-Japanese war as a volunteer that she found her calling as a nurse.

In 1945, Mdm Hsu went to England to study nursing at the London Nursing Council.

After stints across Europe and even Paraguay, Mdm Hsu came to Singapore in 1963 to serve as the matron of Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital for 20 years.

She was also the founder of the Home for the Aged Sick.

Though Mdm Hsu never married and had children, she is remembered by the many whose lives she has touched — including her adopted son and caregiver Sharana Rao, who is continuing her work at the non-profit Heart to Heart.

Mdm Hsu died peacefully in her home on 7 Dec 2011 at the age of 113.

3. Li Zhuan — The multi-hyphenate businessman who had 14 children

Born in Jan 1907 in Putian, Fujian, Li Zhuan was a pharmacist, businessman, and philanthropist.

At age 18, Mr Li — who came from a line of scholars — followed his two elder brothers to Singapore.

After being successful in their medical training, Mr Li and his elder brother opened Yishoutang Pharmarcy on Quinn Street.

Apart from medicine, he worked in construction, real estate, the hotel industry, insurance, and even organised a bus company.

For his personal life, Mr Li married twice and had fourteen children between both marriages.

In Jan 2006, he transformed his birthday party into a fundraiser for Hong Wen School and Thong Chai Medical Association.

12 years later, his eldest son, Li Qing Chuan, died peacefully in his sleep at 86 years old.

Mr Li would pass away a year later on 22 July 2019 at the age of 112.

4. Tay Kiong — The gentle soul who wanted to be with her husband

Tay Kiong was believed to have been born on 21 May 1890 in Fujian, China.

In 1917, 27-year-old Mdm Tay left all that she knew to move to Singapore, where her husband worked.

The couple reportedly had three sons together, and while the eldest eventually moved to Malaysia, the other two stayed in Singapore.

Although she lived to become a supercentenarian, Mdm Tay outlived her husband and her sons.

Even her grandson, who became her main caregiver, died in 1999.

She later moved to the Apex Harmony Lodge in Pasir Ris, where she passed away at 112 years old in Oct 2002.

She was reportedly remembered by the home’s staff as “gentle” and “often smiling”.

Mdm Tay’s funeral was presided over by Zion Presbyterian Church, which she frequented during her long life in Singapore.

5. Pan Qiurong — The single mother who outlived her only child

Pan Qiurong was born in 1909 in Hainan, China.

She became a widow at a young age, later emigrating to Singapore with her only son.

According to her grandson, she never remarried and worked as a helper for other families until she retired.

Mdm Pan was remembered as physically strong, having even travelled alone to China at 90 years old to visit her only surviving younger brother.

However, her wellbeing took a turn for worse when her beloved son died in 2014 from pneumonia.

After his death, Mdm Pan began to have dementia and would be bedridden for more five years.

She died on 6 Jan 2021 at the age of 111 years old while under the care of her two grandchildren and domestic helper.

According to her grandson, Mdm Pan’s only regret in life was the death of her only child.

They later placed her ashes together with her son’s .

Oldest living Singaporean as of 2026 is 106 years old

Even though the supercentenarians listed have already passed, Singapore still has a centenarian who is still very happy and well.

Born in 1920, Mdm Lin Geok I is 106 years old in 2026 and is currently the oldest living Singaporean.

She was born in Singapore some time in 1920 since the old pink identity card do not include specific date or month on it.

Despite requiring hearing aids and a wheelchair, Mdm Lin’s mind is still “clearly sharp”.

She enjoys eating durians with her caretakers and other seniors at the THK Active Ageing Centre@Fengshan 114.

While many people fear of aging, Mdm Lin is living proof that ageing can be embraced gracefully and cheerfully.

Also read: 5 most eerie shopping centres in S’pore with lesser known pasts & ghostly sightings

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Featured image adapted from Genrontology Wiki, Lian He Zao Bao, Wikimedia Commons.