Goodbye dear grandma, until we meet again

Two weeks ago on Mother's Day, as a family we said goodbye to my dear grandma. She lived to a ripe old age of 102 before she was called home to be with the Lord. I am extremely grateful that she was a believer, and firmly believe she is in heaven looking down on us now. There have been so many emotions running through everyone's hearts since the beginning of the month, where we were all preparing our hearts to say goodbye.

Grandma was the matriarch and the glue of the family.

I thought it's best fitting that I share the eulogy I shared at her memorial service.

"Thank you everyone for coming tonight to celebrate the life of my grandma, or whom I affectionately called as "mama" in our Teochew language. Not many get to live a life beyond 100, and I am so ever grateful that we had the blessing of spending an extended period of time with her. Tonight (9th May 2026), we celebrate her and the legacy that she has left behind.

Grandma took care of my brother and I when we were young, and almost every memory I had of her was of her cooking dish after dish in the kitchen every single day. I don't know how she found the energy to do it now that I am a mum myself, and I barely cook. She also handled the family marketing expenses really well. Even amongst my close JC friends, they came to know of her cooking prowess and I remember inviting them over for a meal where grandma cooked a Suan la tang (sour-spicy soup) with some dishes. My friends were so impressed that they kept asking me what can't my grandma cook. They joking challenged the Japanese takopachi (octopus balls) - not because grandma couldn't cook this dish, but because we didn't have the machine! Another friend tasted her ondeh-ondeh and remember it until now - he will think of her whenever he eats this kueh. Another uni friend came by to drop off something and he got to drink a cup of homemade soya milk drink. It was endless. In fact it was clear grandmas love language was acts of service and food in particular.

Some of the food grandma made

She took care of my brother and I since young. When everyone was at work, she brought us to and fro from our pre school. I remember that huge road which we had to jaywalk everyday to my kindergarten, which looking back, was incredibly brave and possible illegal now. Really thank God for His protection then! When we entered primary school, my brother and I would alternate between morning and afternoon sessions, and grandma will somehow be able to handle our schedules seamlessly. If it was raining I know she would be carrying a big umbrella, waiting for me to alight the school bus.

With my brother's parrot on her shoulder

Thanks to her, all her grandkids managed to learn fluent Teochew from her, something which I treasure.

Fast forward to my time in London I knew that she was always praying for me during those 14 years. I remember surprising her on one of my first trips back. When I turned up at the door with luggage in tow, she was so shocked she couldn't speak. I was just glad she didn't faint when she saw me. Needless to say she was so happy to see me. I remember waking up late the very next day due to jet lag and she excitedly told me she made me chicken chop and mashed potatoes (I even remember blogging about this!). I said "mama, I just came back from England why did you cook me a western meal?" She realised and started laughing, telling me I shocked her so much the previous day that she couldn't think straight.

Grandma prayed practical prayers too. She prayed over my safety, my two pregnancies, and everything in between. I specifically remember her praying to Jesus to grant me strength to carry Gabriel when she found out that he was a very chunky baby.

Because food is the family's love language, when I stayed with my European housemate in London, she would comment that every evening when she comes home from work, instead of me asking "How are you?" or "How's your day?", my first question would always be "Have you eaten?" I guess that is a bit of grandma in me!

Today I am very grateful for grandma's salvation, her baptism, and the fact she is in a better place now. This goodbye is temporal and we will all be reunited one day. I want to also take the chance to honour my aunts who have selflessly taken care of my grandma with such great love and care. I also thank God for divinely guiding our steps to Glory Presbyterian when we moved back from London. The church has really journeyed alongside with my family for the past 3 years. Without Pastor Forest and his team my grandma would not have been able to have been ministered in solid Teochew, sing hymns in Teochew and pray in Teochew. I give God all the glory for this, and our family will ever be so grateful for this blessing. Thank you to GPC and thank you pastor."