我们亲爱的奶奶

In loving memory of
Mdm Tan Geok Tian

Returned to be with the Lord on 9 January 2013.

Dearly missed and fondly remembered by loved ones.

I have stayed with 奶奶a large part of my life. She is a wonderful cook, great singer, skilled tailor, artistic barber,  elegant lady, devoted wife, self sacrificing mother, grandmotherly grandmother and God fearing Christian.

奶奶 always tells us how she used to prepare banquets (>10 tables) for her family, cooked all sorts of  festive goodies (eg 新年-- 年糕/糕点，端午节-- 粽子，中秋节--月饼, 冬至-- 汤圆) and created delicacies from the most simple ingredients. And my taste buds can certainly testify to her wonderful cooking. Remembered when we were young, we would be so excited when 奶奶 is about to whip some delicacies and be able to participate in the process. She would teach us patiently to beat the eggs to make kaya, kneed the flour to make cakes (my favourite 发糕 and 鸡蛋糕), fry the garlic before the delicious fried bee hoon, roll the 汤圆 (pink and white ones). Though I was sure we were more trouble then help, 奶奶always welcomed our presence with a smile and equal excitement. There was never a dull meal when 奶奶 was in the kitchen. How I wished I could learn even 1% of her culinary skills...

Not only was 奶奶skilled in cooking, she was also a skilled tailor. Most, if not all, of our childhood pyjamas were all handmade by 奶奶. Every Christmas, we would look forward to her gifts of new clothes, which we would wear in the coming new year. In addition, 奶奶 made the most beautiful quilts, from all the left over cloth she used to make our pyjamas. Covering oneself in her beautifully woven quilts, one snuggles into sweet dreams under the warmth of 奶奶's love.

At the same time, 奶奶was also our personal barber. I remember getting into the double/triple stacked chairs, sitting in the front porch, waiting in anticipation. 奶奶would pull this familiar pink cloth around our neck (to cover our body neck-wards, revealing only our head), put on fragrant powder on our neck and snip away. Haircut was always a delightful experience, though during the haircut I would feel the little gitters, following 奶奶's commands to turn my head or close my eyes, I was always confident that the end product would be a handsome me, for my hair was safe in the hands of my wonderful 奶奶.

And that was how 奶奶showed her tireless love for us, through her gifts and acts of service.

奶奶 was an avid singer. She LOVED oldies, always humming tunes like 夜上海，小小东方 and many others which I cannot remember. Remember we would often look out for her favourite oldies eg 蔡琴，费玉亲 and play them on CD or catch them on TV. 奶奶's passion for songs led her to even handcopy lyrics of her favourite songs in notebooks which she kept preciously, showing them to us occasionally with pride :) But her all time favourite, and closest to her heart was "耶稣爱我" which she would sing almost everyday and we would use to effectively divert her attention :) This simply reveals her love for God and her confidence in the Lord's love for her.

大姑 always told me how 奶奶came from a very rich family, but chose to marry 爷爷who was from a poor family. Despite her wealth and high social status, 奶奶 did not take her inheritance for granted. Despite marrying into a poorer family, she did not flaunt her wealth, but choice to live simply and labourously. Though she had a personal servant, she still did her own chores and even chores of my 爷爷's family. 大姑often shared just how much she sacrificed for her family, often silently being bullied by others. Yet, she never complained, but found creative + cost-effective ways around problems and still treated everyone with love and respect, even those who bullied her. In fact, she took much effort to acquire her skills so that she could home-make stuff to save money. She would make daddy's uniforms, new year clothings, cut her children's hair and cook healthy homemade dishes, all to save cost for the family. Such sacrifice!

In addition, 奶奶 was one who cared for the poor and neglected. 奶奶often shared how she would bring food from her father's massive warehouse and offer to poorer classmates. I have seen her preparing drinks for the road sweepers and rubbish collectors who pass by our place and made it a point every morning to greet them. Such compassion and acceptance, especially to the neglected of the society, is one of the traits that many respect and love 奶奶 for.

Though 奶奶 was a full-time dedicated housewife and a pauper's wife, she never lost her fashion sense or her elegance. She always displayed a highly elegant public persona, being 爷爷's pride in major functions. Many often commented just how well dressed and graceful she was. 奶奶 has taught me that fashion is not limited to the wealthy. Elegance is more than just the outward look. It is about the state of the mind and soul, which is reflected in our outward form. This is truly reflection of the verse "every good tree bears good fruit" (Mat 7: 17)

奶奶's life has been a rocky one. Yet, by her faith in Christ and God's grace, her life reflected the over-pouring blessings and grace that comes from God. 奶奶 has left behind a legacy of love for us to model and learn. A love for the unlovable, the neglected, her husband, her family. Though she has left us, we know that she is in a better place, in the arms of our Lord, holding hands with 爷爷 whom she dearly loves. 奶奶，我们永远思念您！

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耶稣爱我万不错

因有圣书告诉我

凡小孩子主牧养

我虽软弱主强壮

耶稣爱我舍生命

将我罪恶洗干净

天堂荣门替我开

把祂小羊引进来

耶稣爱我永不忘

永不离开祂小羊

白日遭难主搭救

黑夜睡觉主看守

主耶稣爱我

主耶稣爱我

主耶稣爱我

有圣书告诉我

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