Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Remembering Michael Chia Bock Koon

Michael Chia Bock Koon, son of Tan Chuan (died when Michael was 6 years old, of childbirth) and Chia Keng (he had 4 brothers), a Landlord of 24 acres of land in Florence Road, Singapore. Michael was raised by step-mom, Ong Kek. (The only Grandma we knew and loved)

Michael was born at 176H, Florence Road on Sept. 9, 1931.

Siblings : Sia Gek, Lucy Chia, Chia Kiat, Siah Chwee, Doris Sia and Alan Sia (who went home to the Lord in 1985).

Children  :  Lim Swee Beng, Agnes Chia, Elsie Chia Lee Wah, Chia Lay Sun, Daisy Chia, Alex Chia Swee Koon, Harvey Chia Swee Meng, Emilene Chia Sai Hong and Susana Chia Lay Sim, Stanley Sia, Shaun Sia

Sons-in-law:  Thuan Doan, David Chua, Nickolas Soen (went home to the Lord in 1997), DC Power.

Daughters-in-law:  Chan Wai Ling, Jane Ong Bee Lay, Sarah Chompaisal, Rachel Lam

Grand Children:  Julian Chua, Marilyn Kok, Johana Choo, Marcus Kok, Benjamin Power, Jonathan Choo, Justin Chua, Andrei Soen, Natalie Chia, Jolyna Choo, Nikola Soen, Rachel Chia, Jolanda Choo, , Natashia Soen, Melissa Chia, Martha Chia,  Darius Chia, Aloysous Chia, Jared Woon, Jewel Woon, Kyle Doan, Ethan Sia, Kate Sia, Lim Su Pei

Michael started his career as a street vendor as a child.  Having no education, he attended night school.  He then worked as a Site foreman for his brother-in-law's (husband of Lucy) construction company.  When Harvey was born, he started working at the Bristish Camp as a foreman.  He later left the job, and owned his own Construction Company which did very well.  A few of his projects are the Fullerton Hotel (formerly, the General Post Office), and the ROV (Registry of Vehicle).

In his later years, he went to Sydney, Australia to live with Agnes, Marilyn and Marcus.  He really loved and enjoyed his time with them since he was living his Dreams!

In his lifetime, he frequently travelled to Malaysia to do all kinds of funny sports like hunting for weird animals, and eating all kinds of exotic animal brains, too gross to mention.  He loves traveling, but I believe his first flight out of Singapore, was to visit Uncle Alan, his little brother, in Perth.  Other cities he visited were Beijing, China, Sydney Australia, and Los Angeles, California.  He later migrated to Northern California, where he was laid to rest in Half Moon Bay's Skylawn cemetery.  A beautiful spot for his remains, facing the Pacific Ocean.

While I was growing up, I remember some of his hobbies includes birds (we had an aviary), fishes (we had fish pond with giant carps), flowers (that lined the whole front yard).  When he buys, he really buys... like giant gemstones, and when he buys fabrics for us, he buys it by the bale, so we all dress in the same fabric.:-((  I know he found some even more exotic animals for his grandchildren.  haha

He is just a LOVE! :-)





Michaels' Siblings Family

Sia Gek  (No. 1 sister's family)


Susan Lim Soh Cheng, (elder sis), her husband Jack Lee, her elder daughter : Faye Lee Siow (Seow)  Ping, her husband Christopher Koh,
children: Son : Cliffton Koh, daughter: Felin Koh, Son: Ian Lee Tuck Keong, spouse: Agnes Lim and baby son: Josea Lee. 
Gina Lim (Lyn) Soh Kim (Khim), spouse: John HS Tham, children: son: Fernando Tham Ning Xiong, daughter: Priscilla Tham Ling Harn 
Sheila Lim Swee Hong, Elder daughter: Sharin (Sharlyn) Lim, her spouse: Shaun Cheah and younger daughter:: Shendy Lim 
Florence Lim Swee Tin 
Lim Swee Beng, daughter: Lim Su Pei 
Billy Lim Swee Chong 
Deric Lim Swee Leng, Wife: Agnes Koh, Children: daughters : Janine Lim, Jeana Lim, sons: Dalton Lim and Dylan Lim 
Ritz Lim Swee Thiam 
Sharon Lim Swee Yen spouse: John Foo

Lucy Chia (No. 2 sister)
Children - Ho Seow Chwee
                 Ho Seow Phuan
                 Ho Seow Kai
                 Ho Peck Yong, Endora
                 Ho Seow Ee
                 Ho Seow Soo

Chia Kiat (No. 3 sister)
Children - Koh Hock Eng
                 Koh Ah Choon



Siah Chwee (No. 4 sister)
Children:  Suli Sabo, husband - Eddy Sabo, kid - Nicolas Sabo
                 Soh Kwee Fung
                 Soh Lam Seng
                 Soh Lay Lan
                 Soh Boon Siew



Doris Seah Chin Choo (No. 5 Sister), Husband, Tay Guan Song

Children :  Jennifer Tay, Jeffery Tay, Jason Tay

Alan Sia (Brother), Wife, Elizabeth (Lisa)  Han Nee

Children :  Serena Sia, husband Paul Bailey, kids Laura Bailey, Matthew Bailey
                  Stanley Sia, wife - Sarah Chompaisal, kids, Ethan Sia, Kate Sia
                  Shaun Sia, wife - Rachel Lam