In a moving, heartfelt eulogy to his wife of 63 years, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew finally said goodbye to his lifelong sweetheart.
At a private funeral service for the late Madam Kwa Geok Choo at the Mandai Crematorium on Wednesday evening, the 87-year-old MM Lee brought tears to many in attendance when he fondly recalled his wife’s devotion to him.
He said that even as he was dealing with grief that “cannot be expressed in words”, he took comfort in the fact that his “Choo” had lived a long and fruitful life.
“My wife and I have been together since 1947 for more than three quarters of our lives. My grief at her passing cannot be expressed in words,” he said.
He went on to share little-known anecdotes about his lifelong sweetheart and about how she brought up their three children to be “well-behaved, polite, considerate and never to throw their weight as the prime minister’s children.”
On her love for nature, he said, “She had simple pleasures. We woud walk around the Istana gardens in the evening… Later, when we had grandchildren, she would take them to feed the fish and the swans in the Istana ponds. Then we would swim… She knew each flower by its popular and botanical names.”
On fragile ties with Malaysia, MM Lee said she was an astute observer of character and said “she told me we would not succeed because the UMNO Malay leaders had such different lifestyles and because their politics were communally-based, on race and religion… she was right. We were asked to leave Malaysia before two years.”
MM Lee also described how the several strokes she suffered in her final years left her bed-ridden and weak but still her consideration and love for others shone through.
“When she coughed, she would take her small pillow to cover her mouth because she was worried for them and did not want to infect them,” he said, referring to the nurses who took care of her.
"When I kissed her on her cheek, she told me not to come too close to her in case I caught her pneumonia… When given some peaches in hospital, she asked the maid to take one home for my lunch. I was at the centre of her life.”
MM Lee revealed that his wife’s last wish was ”to enjoin our children to have our ashes placed together, as we were in life.”
In a weak voice low with emotion, MM Lee concluded, “She devoted herself to me and our children. She was always there when I needed her… I should find solace at her 89 years of her life well lived. But at this moment of the final parting, my heart is heavy with sorrow and grief.”
Earlier in the day, family, friends and Singaporeans bid a final farewell as the casket of Mrs Lee left the Istana grounds at 3.45pm for the Mandai Crematorium.
Family members, including MM Lee and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, walked behind the ceremonial gun carriage for about 10 metres while one of Mrs Lee’s grandchildren held her portrait photograph.
A crowd of about 400 had gathered outside the Istana grounds to say goodbye and as the gun carriage passed, many bowed their heads as a mark of respect.
With three police cars leading the way, the cortege then proceeded to travel along Upper Thomson Road, where as many as 500 people – mostly staff from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports – lined the road.
Mrs Lee passed away at the age of 89 at her Oxley Road home over the weekend with her daughter, Dr Lee Wei Ling by her side.
*from yahoo singapore News
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