Friday, January 01, 2010
A Tribbute To My Late Mother-In-Law
Dear friends and relations. Thank you for attending this occasion. Today, we all come together to say farewell to Madam Teoh and to reflect on her life.
Most of you would have known Madam Teoh as your friends who were with you on the many meetings, parties, and outing visits. To me, Madam Teoh was not only my mother-in-law; she was part of our family. She was like my mother. My children called her grandma, and I called her grandma too.
Grandma came to stay with us a few months after my wife and I were married. In those earlier years, grandma had helped to take care of our two children and helping out the housework while we were working at offices. When we decided to migrate to Australia many years ago, we decided that we would not leave grandma overseas and had included her as our family in our application for migration.
When we arrived in Australia 20 years ago together with Grandma, everything was new to all of us. We all had to learn to settle down quickly. At the time, Grandma was unable to speak any English. With our encouragement, grandma enrolled herself in English classes. At the time, she was already in her early 60s. Nevertheless, she showed her ability as an ardent serious student and picked up the English language well. Since then, Grandma continued to excel in her quest for learning English and was certified capable of basic conversation English. This had helped her greatly and enriched her daily life. She had then joined many learning classes for many years. This not only provided her with an opportunity for her quest for English and knowledge, it provided her with an opportunity to interact with people of all races.
Living in a new environment in Australia, life can be strange and unfamiliar. To further enrich her life, we had encouraged her to venture out more often beside the local shopping centres. She soon learned to walk a kilometre to the train station and caught a train to the city Chinatown to do her shopping.
With growing confidence, Grandma had joined a number of social groups where weekly gathering were held. Grandma was particularly keen on the Blacktown Chinese Women Group where every Friday, they have gathering to listen to speakers, held birthday or other parties, or make outings to Blue Mountains, the South Coast and other surrounding exotic places. Grandma was also a regular member of the Blacktown Crestwood Centre where a van came and picked her from our house every Monday. Grandma always looked forward to these gatherings, rain or sunshine.
As a family, we regularly went out for dinners during birthdays, special occasions, or on the days we decided not to cook at home. Grandma had always had dinner with us. When our children were studying Chinese school at the Nan Tian Temples, Grandma was always with us around the temple. Grandma had also attended the many school sports carnivals or school functions and the New Year Reunion Dinners at the Nan Tian temple with us.
In those days when our children were younger, we always went on holidays together as a family. We had been back to home country together since we migrated to Australia. When we were holidays in Gold Coast, in Port Macquarie, in the South Coast or in Dubbo, Grandma was with us. Even at her age, Grandma felt quite comfortable during those long drives. In her mid 60s, Grandma was still full of adrenalin. During our visit to the Dream World in Gold Coast, Grandma was quite game to take on the “Batman the Drive” and “the Flume” splashing down from a great height, despite warning signs discouraging the participation of aged people and those with weak hearts. Similarly at the Jamberoo Recreation Park, Grandma did not hesitate to ride the toboggan down those steep hills. And Grandma really enjoyed those rides.
Later, Grandma was diagnosed with heart problem and required an open-heart surgery with quadrupled bypass. Grandma faced it on with courage and she would not want her friends to worry about it. Grandma told her friends that she would be away for a few days for some medical check-up and hence unable to attend the weekly gathering. As it would have turned out, the operation was a great success and Grandma recovered quickly to resume her normal activities in no time. Grandma had always been a survivor. Although there were times of medical emergency, we were there first hand to assist and medical help had always arrived on time.
Even near her eighties, Grandma was able to carry on with her usual activities without fail. Although she had lost her way a couple of time walking from Parramatta train station to the Nan Tian Temple in Parramatta, she would eventually make it.
However, lately in her eighties, Grandma’s was not in very good health. During this period Grandma was admitted to hospital on a number of occasions. It was obvious that Grandma now required more intense care and medical attention. In consultation with Grandma, we had visited and inspected about 10 other nursing homes and had decided that the Bupa Nursing Home would be the most ideal. Upon discharged from hospital, Grandma had moved to Bupa. We visited here regularly until her final days. During her stay in Bupa Nursing Homes, she had received excellent care from the nurses and the staff. I thank them very much for their dedicated work and their compassion.
Now that Grandma had travelled to the end of her journey this life. We are here to bid her farewell. As Grandma journeys to a new life, may she be liberated and all harmful circumstances be subdued. May she be protected from all situations that cause fear. And may her journey from this life to the next be without fear. And may the enlightened beings be there to guide her.
As Grandma has wished, her remains would be cremated and her ashes would be buried in a memorial garden plot named “Yee Yuen” or “Leisure Land” in the Chinese Garden Long Poh Shan in Pinegrove Memorial Garden, Minchinbury. This memorial garden plot was acquired 10 years ago in accordance with Grandma’s wish. The trees at “Leisure Land” or “Yee Yuan” had grown very well and they include Grandma’s beloved yellow roses, the Chinese Kam Quet, Camelia, conifer shrubs and pine trees. This is an ideal resting place for Grandma. Where mind is no obstacle, and where there is no fear.
We will remember Grandma the way she had lived. May our Lord Buddha bless her soul and ensure her reborn to an even better life. Amitabba Buddha.
Madam Teoh, softly she came, calmly and peacefully she departed. She was unimpeded in her mind. She was not afraid. She left far behind delusive thinking and distorted dream, and ultimately Nirvana. In future, we will remember her the way she lived. At the rising and setting of the sun, we will remember her. At the season where flowers bloom, and at the season the leaves fall, we will remember her. Amitabha Buddha.
Most of you would have known Madam Teoh as your friends who were with you on the many meetings, parties, and outing visits. To me, Madam Teoh was not only my mother-in-law; she was part of our family. She was like my mother. My children called her grandma, and I called her grandma too.
Grandma came to stay with us a few months after my wife and I were married. In those earlier years, grandma had helped to take care of our two children and helping out the housework while we were working at offices. When we decided to migrate to Australia many years ago, we decided that we would not leave grandma overseas and had included her as our family in our application for migration.
When we arrived in Australia 20 years ago together with Grandma, everything was new to all of us. We all had to learn to settle down quickly. At the time, Grandma was unable to speak any English. With our encouragement, grandma enrolled herself in English classes. At the time, she was already in her early 60s. Nevertheless, she showed her ability as an ardent serious student and picked up the English language well. Since then, Grandma continued to excel in her quest for learning English and was certified capable of basic conversation English. This had helped her greatly and enriched her daily life. She had then joined many learning classes for many years. This not only provided her with an opportunity for her quest for English and knowledge, it provided her with an opportunity to interact with people of all races.
Living in a new environment in Australia, life can be strange and unfamiliar. To further enrich her life, we had encouraged her to venture out more often beside the local shopping centres. She soon learned to walk a kilometre to the train station and caught a train to the city Chinatown to do her shopping.
With growing confidence, Grandma had joined a number of social groups where weekly gathering were held. Grandma was particularly keen on the Blacktown Chinese Women Group where every Friday, they have gathering to listen to speakers, held birthday or other parties, or make outings to Blue Mountains, the South Coast and other surrounding exotic places. Grandma was also a regular member of the Blacktown Crestwood Centre where a van came and picked her from our house every Monday. Grandma always looked forward to these gatherings, rain or sunshine.
As a family, we regularly went out for dinners during birthdays, special occasions, or on the days we decided not to cook at home. Grandma had always had dinner with us. When our children were studying Chinese school at the Nan Tian Temples, Grandma was always with us around the temple. Grandma had also attended the many school sports carnivals or school functions and the New Year Reunion Dinners at the Nan Tian temple with us.
In those days when our children were younger, we always went on holidays together as a family. We had been back to home country together since we migrated to Australia. When we were holidays in Gold Coast, in Port Macquarie, in the South Coast or in Dubbo, Grandma was with us. Even at her age, Grandma felt quite comfortable during those long drives. In her mid 60s, Grandma was still full of adrenalin. During our visit to the Dream World in Gold Coast, Grandma was quite game to take on the “Batman the Drive” and “the Flume” splashing down from a great height, despite warning signs discouraging the participation of aged people and those with weak hearts. Similarly at the Jamberoo Recreation Park, Grandma did not hesitate to ride the toboggan down those steep hills. And Grandma really enjoyed those rides.
Later, Grandma was diagnosed with heart problem and required an open-heart surgery with quadrupled bypass. Grandma faced it on with courage and she would not want her friends to worry about it. Grandma told her friends that she would be away for a few days for some medical check-up and hence unable to attend the weekly gathering. As it would have turned out, the operation was a great success and Grandma recovered quickly to resume her normal activities in no time. Grandma had always been a survivor. Although there were times of medical emergency, we were there first hand to assist and medical help had always arrived on time.
Even near her eighties, Grandma was able to carry on with her usual activities without fail. Although she had lost her way a couple of time walking from Parramatta train station to the Nan Tian Temple in Parramatta, she would eventually make it.
However, lately in her eighties, Grandma’s was not in very good health. During this period Grandma was admitted to hospital on a number of occasions. It was obvious that Grandma now required more intense care and medical attention. In consultation with Grandma, we had visited and inspected about 10 other nursing homes and had decided that the Bupa Nursing Home would be the most ideal. Upon discharged from hospital, Grandma had moved to Bupa. We visited here regularly until her final days. During her stay in Bupa Nursing Homes, she had received excellent care from the nurses and the staff. I thank them very much for their dedicated work and their compassion.
Now that Grandma had travelled to the end of her journey this life. We are here to bid her farewell. As Grandma journeys to a new life, may she be liberated and all harmful circumstances be subdued. May she be protected from all situations that cause fear. And may her journey from this life to the next be without fear. And may the enlightened beings be there to guide her.
As Grandma has wished, her remains would be cremated and her ashes would be buried in a memorial garden plot named “Yee Yuen” or “Leisure Land” in the Chinese Garden Long Poh Shan in Pinegrove Memorial Garden, Minchinbury. This memorial garden plot was acquired 10 years ago in accordance with Grandma’s wish. The trees at “Leisure Land” or “Yee Yuan” had grown very well and they include Grandma’s beloved yellow roses, the Chinese Kam Quet, Camelia, conifer shrubs and pine trees. This is an ideal resting place for Grandma. Where mind is no obstacle, and where there is no fear.
We will remember Grandma the way she had lived. May our Lord Buddha bless her soul and ensure her reborn to an even better life. Amitabba Buddha.
Madam Teoh, softly she came, calmly and peacefully she departed. She was unimpeded in her mind. She was not afraid. She left far behind delusive thinking and distorted dream, and ultimately Nirvana. In future, we will remember her the way she lived. At the rising and setting of the sun, we will remember her. At the season where flowers bloom, and at the season the leaves fall, we will remember her. Amitabha Buddha.
