2nd Funeral

This is the second funeral....my beloved and only aunt in Kuala Lumpur passed away at 73.

My aunt was beautiful, like my mom.

she is blessed with 7 grand daughters, two show here.

I went to her wake every night 

Her 3 daughters, 1 daughter-in-law and 7 grandaughters

Her son is in front. Everybody wears white t shirt with black pants.

standing at the road for the burning of effigies and joss papers. 

facing relatives who pay their last respects

3rd day morning : hearse heading for the Shah Alam nirvana

3 sons-in-laws leading the hearse

the rest are all behind, sending her off on her final journey.

at the crematorium..coffin heads inside, while her daughters wail heartbreakingly

fire and smoke is simulated, it was so realistic, I thought it was real!

 

then they change into red and head for the canteen where we had a vegetarian lunch. 

this is our last Chinese New Year dinner and getogether with her and her family and my cousin James

My sister from Melbourne visited her for the last time when she was in KL in December 2015. By March 2016 she is gone. 

Her youngest daughter celebrated what was to be her last birthday.

Goodbye Aunt!!!

2 Funerals

Within a space of a month, I attended 2 funerals of relatives.  On 7 March, from Alor Star my husband drove me straight to Batu Pahat to attend my sister-in-law's mother funeral, carrying the same luggage that I had used in Alor Star.

She was a remarkable lady whose husband died fairly young and she single handedly brought up 7 children by herself.

She had 6 sons and an only daughter (my brother's wife.) One of  her sons died last year (the name is boxed) his wife, a Vietnamese also died a few years back (her vietnamese name is boxed too)  another son left the family without a trace, one had severe depression and one became a monk: see picture below

Bante U Sobhana Citta 

 Sons, daughter, and son in law wear white while grandchildren wear blue, and great grandchild wear green.

The only one in green.

Me and my only brother...well we are also ageing too hehe...

 My grandniece with spectacles who lost both her father and her vietnamese mom.

 Breakfast is offered before the picture will be put on the hearse.

Last prayers and procession

 Last respects 

 Her son-in-law

Her son

 Last viewing of the body in the  coffin.

 On the way to the burial grounds and crematorium 

 Coffin is relayed to the furnace.

And the door will close on the coffin.

 A chapter of life is closed too.

Vigil Prayers 16 January 2015

Uncle was called to the Lord on 15 January 2015 5.20 pm

We attended the Vigil Prayers which was in Chinese 

on 16 January 2015 , 8 pm

 Met James who came all the way from KL to be with his cousin John, He went straight to the parlour and spent time with John the whole night, as he had to leave after vigil prayers since he had to man the education fair booth the next day and also had to drive back to Singapore that weekend to be with his own family. We posed outside the beautiful church

And also inside the church annex,

tomorrow the service would be held in the church proper

 John busy with visitors

with Joanne and Jeff, Jess had run off as she does not want any photos!

the night vigil in session, 

I have not heard the "Hail Mary" and the "Our Father" chanted  in Mandarin for a very long time!

after the prayers I sprinkled holy water 

it has been some time that I have attended any mass

 giving the pak kam on behalf of my bro and sisters who could not come

 part of the night vigil crowd

 John's mum...frail and sickly herself

 Joanne, her daughter in law

me with John's mum Theresa, Uncle's wife

 When everyone had left, we had a quiet spot and were able to take photos with Uncle in his final moments

Kiat, me ,James and John

Cousins who came to lend him support in his hour of grief.

John is an only child, and tonight he is very composed and serene.