The speech that moved Lee Kuan Yew to tears...
EULOGY BY GRANDDAUGHTER OF FORMER PRESIDENT WEE KIM WEE - LIM HUI
MIN
Weekend May 7, 2005 MY grandfather's achievements as an editor, a
diplomat and a head of state are now the stuff of legend. You would
have read all these things in the newspapers or watched them on
television - he was a public man. What I should talk about is my
grandfather as a family man. I cannot talk about my grandfather
without also talking about my grandmother. She was the rock of his life.
His last thoughts were of her. They were holding hands when he
finally went to sleep on Monday morning.
Last year, we celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. After dinner
he presented her with a red packet full of money, which he then
followed up with a jewellery box - because my grandmother loves
wearing jewellery. There was a jade brooch inside the box. And,
in return, in front of everybody, she kissed him three times.
They were 87 and 88 at that time.
Once, (when) I was learning the piano, I thought I would learn some
songs to play at my grandmother's birthday party. I asked my
grandfather what songs he thought she would like. To my surprise he
gave me a type-written sheet (with songs listed)in order of preference.
He was always a busy man - he used to tell me that he had two million
things on his mind. But at some point in his life, he had sat down and
thought hard about what music my grandmother would enjoy and typed it
all out and kept it in special folder ready to be whipped out at anytime.
Husbands who are here today: Do you have a list of your wife's top 10
favourite songs in a folder? That's a lesson you can take from my
grandfather.
They celebrated 69 years of marriage together in April this year. I
thank my grandfather from the bottom of my heart for showing us what
it really is like to love a person. I also thank my grandfather for
showing us what it is to love life. He was a man who enjoyed life. He
collected snuff bottles, coins and stamps. He travelled the world; he
played sports; he planted fruit trees; he loved the smell and taste of
hazelnut coffee.
Whenever his grandchildren visited him in his office - whether at the
Malaysian High Commission, the embassy in Tokyo, the Singapore
Broadcast Corporation or the huge halls of the Istana - there would come
moments when he would wink at us, open his desk drawer and say
"have a chocolate".
Unknown to my grandmother, who disapproved of his snacking in between
meals, he always kept a secret stash of Hawaiian hazelnut chocolates,
which he ate out of her sight during office hours.
My grandfather loved animals as well. He liked to watch horses running.
He liked dogs and cats and he liked fish. At the last count, his house
contained 11 chickens, eight terrapins, two goldfish and one dog.
Once, someone gave him six turkeys. I think the idea was for them to
be fattened up and eaten. My grandfather looked at them and spoke to
them. He gave them names. I remember my mother saying to me, "Oh no,
he has given them names - we'll never get rid of them now". And
so the turkeys were with us for quite some time.
But one day, they started irritating the chickens so my grandfather
decided to find them a new home. The Singapore Zoo was chosen.
When the family heard about this, of course we all joked that the
turkeys would be fed to the crocodiles. He was so alarmed by this that
he made special arrangements with the zoo. They were to send him a
written report every time a turkey died. The report had to state the
cause of death and age of each turkey. That was the kind of man my
grandfather was. He revered and respected life - even the life of an
animal.
The stories of his life are, to me, all stories of love. If you wish
to honour his memory in your life, then live your life to the full,
stand by your friends, cherish your family, listen to everyone with
an open mind and welcome those who cross your path with an open
heart.
He has gone on another journey now. We have spent the past five
days saying goodbye to him and it is now the time to let him go.
From all your grandchildren and great grandchildren: I know you
love us all so very much. Goodbye gong gong (granddad). Goodbye.
MIN
Weekend May 7, 2005 MY grandfather's achievements as an editor, a
diplomat and a head of state are now the stuff of legend. You would
have read all these things in the newspapers or watched them on
television - he was a public man. What I should talk about is my
grandfather as a family man. I cannot talk about my grandfather
without also talking about my grandmother. She was the rock of his life.
His last thoughts were of her. They were holding hands when he
finally went to sleep on Monday morning.
Last year, we celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. After dinner
he presented her with a red packet full of money, which he then
followed up with a jewellery box - because my grandmother loves
wearing jewellery. There was a jade brooch inside the box. And,
in return, in front of everybody, she kissed him three times.
They were 87 and 88 at that time.
Once, (when) I was learning the piano, I thought I would learn some
songs to play at my grandmother's birthday party. I asked my
grandfather what songs he thought she would like. To my surprise he
gave me a type-written sheet (with songs listed)in order of preference.
He was always a busy man - he used to tell me that he had two million
things on his mind. But at some point in his life, he had sat down and
thought hard about what music my grandmother would enjoy and typed it
all out and kept it in special folder ready to be whipped out at anytime.
Husbands who are here today: Do you have a list of your wife's top 10
favourite songs in a folder? That's a lesson you can take from my
grandfather.
They celebrated 69 years of marriage together in April this year. I
thank my grandfather from the bottom of my heart for showing us what
it really is like to love a person. I also thank my grandfather for
showing us what it is to love life. He was a man who enjoyed life. He
collected snuff bottles, coins and stamps. He travelled the world; he
played sports; he planted fruit trees; he loved the smell and taste of
hazelnut coffee.
Whenever his grandchildren visited him in his office - whether at the
Malaysian High Commission, the embassy in Tokyo, the Singapore
Broadcast Corporation or the huge halls of the Istana - there would come
moments when he would wink at us, open his desk drawer and say
"have a chocolate".
Unknown to my grandmother, who disapproved of his snacking in between
meals, he always kept a secret stash of Hawaiian hazelnut chocolates,
which he ate out of her sight during office hours.
My grandfather loved animals as well. He liked to watch horses running.
He liked dogs and cats and he liked fish. At the last count, his house
contained 11 chickens, eight terrapins, two goldfish and one dog.
Once, someone gave him six turkeys. I think the idea was for them to
be fattened up and eaten. My grandfather looked at them and spoke to
them. He gave them names. I remember my mother saying to me, "Oh no,
he has given them names - we'll never get rid of them now". And
so the turkeys were with us for quite some time.
But one day, they started irritating the chickens so my grandfather
decided to find them a new home. The Singapore Zoo was chosen.
When the family heard about this, of course we all joked that the
turkeys would be fed to the crocodiles. He was so alarmed by this that
he made special arrangements with the zoo. They were to send him a
written report every time a turkey died. The report had to state the
cause of death and age of each turkey. That was the kind of man my
grandfather was. He revered and respected life - even the life of an
animal.
The stories of his life are, to me, all stories of love. If you wish
to honour his memory in your life, then live your life to the full,
stand by your friends, cherish your family, listen to everyone with
an open mind and welcome those who cross your path with an open
heart.
He has gone on another journey now. We have spent the past five
days saying goodbye to him and it is now the time to let him go.
From all your grandchildren and great grandchildren: I know you
love us all so very much. Goodbye gong gong (granddad). Goodbye.
Labels: Life
posted by melliebaby @ 7:11 PM
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