How come no wake at Saint Andrew Cathedral?
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In today's paper about the final farewell for war heroine Elizabeth Choy, it was mentioned there have been no wake at SAC for 150 years but they made an exception for Ms Choy.
A wake is a perfectly legal affair. May I know why there wasn't a single wake at SAC for 150 years? -
wakes r those u see at void decks.
the cathedral dun allow such because of space constrains.
funeral services however r allowed for members in the cathedral jus before proceeding to crematorium. -
Space constraints?Originally posted by NT2:wakes r those u see at void decks.
the cathedral dun allow such because of space constrains.
funeral services however r allowed for members in the cathedral jus before proceeding to crematorium.
How much space you need to put a coffin? Don't need any elaborate decorations like other religions.
If you have been to the crematorium, you know how much space is needed to put a coffin, before it is cremated.
If you say they need to set up tables and chairs to play mahjong and eat peanuts, of course no space lor. But I am wondering issit no one requests for wakes to be held there or got pple ask but they dun allow?
I suspect they don't want the wake to clash with the regular service? -
i am not the spokesperson for the cathedral. take it as ur suspicion is right.Originally posted by Icemoon:Space constraints?
How much space you need to put a coffin? Don't need any elaborate decorations like other religions.
If you have been to the crematorium, you know how much space is needed to put a coffin, before it is cremated.
If you say they need to set up tables and chairs to play mahjong and eat peanuts, of course no space lor. But I am wondering issit no one requests for wakes to be held there or got pple ask but they dun allow?
I suspect they don't want the wake to clash with the regular service? -
I am a bit confused now.
What is a wake actually? It is a chinese custom right?
If ang moh dies, they don't have wake right? I think at most memorial service in the church, then another one at the graveyard? -
Toasting her life with champagne
Sarah Ng
674 words
17 September 2006
Straits Times
English
(c) 2006 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
That's how war heroine would have wanted it, said eldest daughter at the end of her mum's funeral
THE family of war heroine Elizabeth Choy celebrated her life with champagne at the end of her funeral at the Mandai Crematorium yesterday.
She would have wanted it that way, said her eldest daughter, Mrs Bridget Bay.
Raising a glass of pink champagne to about 100 family members and friends gathered at the crematorium, Mrs Bay said: 'This is a celebration of Mum's 96 very good years. This is not goodbye. This is till we meet again. Cheers to Mum!'
The former teacher and one-time politician died peacefully at her MacKenzie Road home last Thursday , about two weeks after being discharged from hospital. She was told last month that she had advanced cancer of the pancreas . She was 96 .
Mrs Bay told The Sunday Times: 'Mum had told us not to cry when she goes to heaven, but to celebrate her life. She would have been very happy and proud of us.'
The small celebration was a contrast to the solemn 90-minute funeral service at the historic St Andrew's Cathedral earlier, where more than 600 casually dressed people bade farewell to the sprightly nonagenarian best known as a war heroine.
It was the first time in St Andrew's 150-year history that it had allowed a wake to be held on its premises. It made an exception as Mrs Choy was a war heroine who served both Singapore and Britain during the Japanese Occupation.
British High Commissioner Alan Collins expressed his gratitude for Mrs Choy's contributions to Britain during the Japanese Occupation.
He said: 'On behalf of the British government and the British people she had helped, I would like to pay our sincere and utmost respect to Mrs Choy.'
She and her husband, Mr Choy Khun Heng , were jailed and tortured by the Japanese for helping British prisoners of war.
Mr Choy, who was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) along with her husband after the Japanese Occupation, died in 1985.
Mrs Choy was born Yong Su-moi in Sabah in 1910. She came to Singapore to study in 1929, and started teaching in 1933, first at St Margaret's School and later, St Andrew's School.
In 1951, she was nominated to the Legislative Council - Singapore's first woman legislator. She retired from politics in 1955 and returned to teaching.
In the two eulogies yesterday by her grandchildren - Cheryl Ong, 26, and Stefanie Bay, 18 - she was remembered as the loving 'po po', or grandmother in Chinese, who inspired them with her 'unconditional love for others and amazing spirit'.
Ms Bay said her grandmother had taught her to enjoy the simple things in life, and in her eyes, her 'po po' was like Mother Teresa.
Tears flowed towards the end of the service, when the family took one last look at Mrs Choy in her white casket. She was dressed in one of her favourite outfits, a sequined maroon and black cheongsam, with an orchid tucked behind her ear - her signature look.
Mrs Choy was one of Singapore's first few girl guides. At the crematorium later, Girl Guides Singapore's deputy chief commissioner Jessie Tan told The Sunday Times that her death was a great loss to the girl guide community. 'She was truly a Girl Guide who lived her promise of serving the country and the people, right to the end.'
A former student of St Andrew's Junior School recalled how Mrs Choy, who was the school's vice-principal then, had taught him to appreciate nature. Said businessman Eric Yeo, 53: 'She loved flowers and took great care of the bougainvillea that framed the school archway. She also got us to help care for them. I will always remember her zest for life.'
Mrs Choy is survived by her three adopted daughters, four grandchildren and four siblings.
ngsls@sph.com.sg -
'cos I am thinking .. last time colonial days surely there are many ang mohs who were Anglicans and members of SAC.
If they die their "wake" held where? -
a wake is an asian practice. ang moh dun have wakes...die liao jus funeral and buried or cremate.Originally posted by Icemoon:I am a bit confused now.
What is a wake actually? It is a chinese custom right?
If ang moh dies, they don't have wake right? I think at most memorial service in the church, then another one at the graveyard?
dun have 3,5,7 days of wake...sit there n eat sweets and drink cup form mineral water
so perhaps cathedral being of angmoh origin dun do wakes. -
die liao how to wake ??Originally posted by Icemoon:'cos I am thinking .. last time colonial days surely there are many ang mohs who were Anglicans and members of SAC.
If they die their "wake" held where?
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hmm .. if ang moh die liao immediately funeral and buried/cremate meh?Originally posted by NT2:a wake is an asian practice. ang moh dun have wakes...die liao jus funeral and buried or cremate.
dun have 3,5,7 days of wake...sit there n eat sweets and drink cup form mineral water
so perhaps cathedral being of angmoh origin dun do wakes.
Then where got time to inform friends and relatives?
The body should be interned somewhere while everyone is informed right? -
u ask angmoh. i am chinese.Originally posted by Icemoon:hmm .. if ang moh die liao immediately funeral and buried/cremate meh?
Then where got time to inform friends and relatives?
The body should be interned somewhere while everyone is informed right? -
Ang moh have wakes lah.
If you watch USA movies, sometimes they will show funeral wakes at the person's house.
In Tom Hanks' movie "Road to Petition", Tom Hanks attended a funeral wake of his boss friend. The family put ice around the coffin to preserve the body. -
it's Road to Perdition lah .. not petitionOriginally posted by Honeybunz:Ang moh have wakes lah.
If you watch USA movies, sometimes they will show funeral wakes at the person's house.
In Tom Hanks' movie "Road to Petition", Tom Hanks attended a funeral wake of his boss friend. The family put ice around the coffin to preserve the body. -
I am very touched by the fact that Elizabeth Choy chose to forgive those who tortured her during the world war 2. She said if there wasn't a war, these ppl would be spending time with their family.
She is indeed a beautiful soul with a big heart! -
Originally posted by ben1xy:it's Road to Perdition lah .. not petition
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Just attended a Chinese Catholic wake on Wednesday...
wah lao, teochew rosary, killer man... -
How is Ave Maria sung in Teochew ah? Interesting.Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:Just attended a Chinese Catholic wake on Wednesday...
wah lao, teochew rosary, killer man...
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those r lie in state.Originally posted by Honeybunz:Ang moh have wakes lah.
If you watch USA movies, sometimes they will show funeral wakes at the person's house.
In Tom Hanks' movie "Road to Petition", Tom Hanks attended a funeral wake of his boss friend. The family put ice around the coffin to preserve the body.
when we say wakes we refer to those nightly services and stuffs.
more of asian influenced christian rituals. -
dunno, i only attended the Chinese prayers by the Legionaries.Originally posted by Icemoon:How is Ave Maria sung in Teochew ah? Interesting.
The Teochew prayers were done by Serangoon Catholic Church St Joseph's Dying Aid Society.
Oh, it's sounds very nice. I should learn it next time. -
actually what's the diff between chinese christian ritual and ang moh christian ritual?Originally posted by NT2:those r lie in state.
when we say wakes we refer to those nightly services and stuffs.
more of asian influenced christian rituals.
Because Christians don't "dong dong cheng", the only ritual is the memorial service held at night. Which is what ang moh have I suppose. -
ben and brey live in predominantly ang moh country .. maybe they should tell us what happens when a member of their church joins the Lord.
Like got wake or not. -
And learn the hokkien and cantonese version also, please.Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:dunno, i only attended the Chinese prayers by the Legionaries.
The Teochew prayers were done by Serangoon Catholic Church St Joseph's Dying Aid Society.
Oh, it's sounds very nice. I should learn it next time. -
When my Christian friend's dad passed away due to cancer, they held a wake, but got prayer sessions..
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Actually what is a prayer session? Opps ..Originally posted by laurence82:When my Christian friend's dad passed away due to cancer, they held a wake, but got prayer sessions..
I only know memorial service .. we call it zui1 si1 li3 bai4 in mandarin. -
I never attend thoOriginally posted by Icemoon:Actually what is a prayer session? Opps ..
I only know memorial service .. we call it zui1 si1 li3 bai4 in mandarin.
Just come together and pray lor
For my grandma's funeral, a Catholic priest and some friends of my aunt also come, but I dont know what you call it. They just pray and sing hymns.