Ong Cham Moi, my grandmother, affectionately known as Ama or Ama Tay have gone to be with the Lord on 30 October 2008 at a ripe old age of 95. She had the privilege of witnessing the multiplication of her family from her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren to the 5th generation.
Ama has walked the path of life to its fullest amidst all the trials and tribulations life has thrown in her path. For me, the highlight of her life was when she accepted Christ as her Lord and Saviour. Knowing that as she has left her walk on earth to be with her Maker in heaven has made our hearts rejoice in the midst of our mourning.
As we gather today to bid her farewell, I am reminded of the legacy she leaves behind. A legacy of traits that will hopefully transcend this family’s 5th generation. She embodies so much generosity and graciousness to those around her which naturally makes her so readily accessible to people who walked across her path. There is so many memories of those actions that even today, it brings tears and sorrow knowing that what we have today are only memories from the gracious action of one extraordinary mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. This brings to mind a quote that encompasses everything that we are gathered here today: “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal”.
One of the many memories of her demonstration of love was 20 years ago, when I was very young and she was 75. She would walk 20-30 minutes from the old Lido Theatre to Tanjung Bendera when there were no transport available. Why did she do that? She wanted to be by her child and grandchildren when they needed comforting. She has always been hopeful, gracious and high-spirited evident by her readiness to greet anyone in her path. If I were a stranger, my day would have been transformed by her display of enthusiasm.
We will miss her dearly, we will miss her calling us to “Sia Ma” (which means eating dinner in her dialect, Hing Hwa). Her daily routine of ensuring her plant stay healthy & blooming enhances the beauty of this home, her daily cycling on the stationary bike and morning stroll in front of our home inspires us to be discipline especially in keeping fit and her daily traverse to my uncle’s shop reminds us to stay active and occupied.
I would like to end this eulogy by reading a poem as a tribute to my beloved grandmother:
Legacy of Love
A wife, a mother, a grandma too,
This is the legacy we have from you.
You taught us love and how to fight,
You gave us strength, you gave us might.
A stronger person would be hard to find,
And in your heart, you were always kind.
You fought for us all in one way or another,
Not just as a wife not just as a mother.
For all of us you gave your best,
Now the time has come for you to rest.
So go in peace, you've earned your sleep,
Your love in our hearts, we'll eternally keep.
Ama, we love you and we miss you.
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