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
Dear Daisy,
ReplyDeleteI think we all think of him very often even though we know that he is no longer with us and that he is already in Heaven. Most days, I think of him, mostly during his last stages and how he would still keep reminding me to be careful on the way home from Bayberry. Yesterday, I just mentioned him to Joanne, how difficult it was for him to be laying in a place, not listening to music, not watching TV, nor communicating with anyone. How, he changed from such a clean person to be acceptable to roughly prepared food. When I get up at night, I think of him, how cold it was for him in the winter months, how he accepts his situation.
He was a person who delights in gifts of life, the reason for him buying all those exotic animals for pets. I can imagine how he must be filled with awe and bursts of excitement when he obtains each pet. He has such bright “colgate” smiles in his younger days if you can recall those huge smiles. His love of life also is to give, give and give. Ever so eager to please others with his repertoire of You-Chia-Keuh; Ghor-Hiang and more. Rushing off to the market to bring back bags and bags of food and disappointed that everyone had left. As I write this, I understand how he felt. Each one of us had inherited some of his personality. I am just not sure who inherited his passion for large gemstones. All in all, even with his “sometimes naughty” personality, there’s a lot of goodness and love in our Father’s heart. I pray that he must be so very happy in Heaven now. I do miss him a great deal although we both had our sparing days. It always seem like yesterday for all of the moments we had shared whether grudgingly or happily. Miss him so very much.
Love,
Agnes
I have a roll of film that belonged to Pop...wonder what's on it. It'll be fun to see...will keep you all posted.
ReplyDeletewho is this?
DeleteDear Auntie Daisy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for setting this blog up to remind us of Ah Kong. I was reading what you have posted about Ah Kong and it brought back memories of the time Justin and I spent with him while he was in Singapore and the last time when we saw him in the States.
My Ah Kong was a kind gentleman with a big heart who loves those around him. Ah Kong is a person who loves his food which I recall many fond memories about. Even though when his health was not good, and diabetes was perverting him from having sumptuous dishes.
From seeing him enjoying his T-bone steak at Jack’s place to catching him at Katong Shopping Centre enjoying a huge plate of chicken rice when Ah Ma was preparing dinner at Amber road and I was tasked to go look for him. He was a man who loved his food.
The only time I spent quality time with Ah Kong was taking him to see the Polyclinic doctor every few months and accompanying him for a healthy bowl of mee sua soup after that but knowing that he would prefer a plate of Char Kway Teow at the corner of his eyes. I could tell that he wanted his grandson to know that he is taking care of his health.
These are some of the memories spent with him that I will never forget.
Thanks Julian, for posting.:-)
DeleteDear Family,
ReplyDeleteI am really happy to see that our family shares memories of a life lived instead of mourning a life lost.
My fondest memories of Ah Peh was when I was very young, visiting Singapore during school holidays and having him and Ah Mm look after me for several days. Whilst there were many memorable times, I will share with you a few that have stayed with me:
- Ah Peh knew how much I loved Chwee Kueh so after he had already taken away 6 pcs which I had devoured, he went back down stairs and tah bao-ed another 6 which I then finished too. All this at the age of 8 is pretty excessive, probable the cause of my childhood “obesity” but testament to the fact he just wanted me to be happy – that or he thought I looked cuter the fatter I grew
- He loved to show me his kung fu moves – as a child, anyone who showed you a few kung fu moves was the bomb. That coupled with his bear like stature made the whole show that more impressive
- He always had cheeky smile and laugh. Always telling me the most inappropriate jokes for someone my age that would always make me giggle cos deep down inside I knew I wasn’t supposed to hear such things. A tradition I carry on with my nieces and nephews and my own kids some day.
Thanks sis for setting this up. I think anniversaries like this shouldn’t be sad, as reflecting on these memories remind us how much fuller, cooler and funnier our lives were with these loved ones in them.
Love,
Shaun
thanks, love
Shaun
Shaun, what cute and sweet memories.
DeleteDearest Daisy,
ReplyDeleteYes, of course we do missed him very much. But all I can said is for many years, I have never communicate with him till the very last past of his life. That was what I have always wanted to do. Thank god I did or else, I'll regret till I am six feet underground ha ha...
Love you Sis
Alex
Sweet, Alex!
ReplyDeleteDear Daisy,
ReplyDeleteLooks like everybody already said what I wanted to say. I've been told that I was my father's favorite daughter and that I resembles him the most including our quick temper and phobia of eating at someone else's home.:) Ah, and we were both third born child.
I remember that he was always 'good' at finding remedies. He would make a big pot of cooling tea and make us drink to rid of bad breath...haha. I also remember having some kind of blisters on my hands and he would brew herbs that he picked up from the construction site and had me place my hands over the pot to smoke and kill the 'germs'. When I was young, my right eye was always sore and he would seek all kinds of treatments like bringing me to the Chinese physician who used some kind of needles to poke my ears..ouch!! Eventually, I ended up having a lazy right eye...boohoo. :(
Anyway, the thing that I remembered most was that he took me to my very first job interview. When I was working there, he will show up every now and then to take me home. I got teased all the time that I was daddy's little girl.
Oh, by the way, he and I love precious stones and I'm wondering where are those big stones...haha..
I will always treasure those last moments that I was able to spend with him when he stayed at my house in Higgins Way. Rest in peace, my dearest father.
Love,
Laysun
Hi Daisy and everyone!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your postings of stories of god-pa.
I read with interest and got to know more about him. : )
Did share with my mom too!
You guys have a great dinner gathering this Sunday. Enjoy!
Do send my regards to ah ma too.
Be proud of your dad!
Cheers!
Lester Lim
Sorry Sis, I was so busy with work with the group of Corporate VPs and directors in town for 2 weeks have kept me so
ReplyDeletebusy that I have completely forgotten to write to you. About the photo, my mum said she cannot seems to remember
where she kept it.
We have nothing much to say except my mum, susan and myself want to say we missed him. Really cannot recalled much
of the younger days with him.
God bless you and all,
Gina
Dearest sister,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and writing on the blog, remembering our wonderful dad.
I was the first to response to your blog on email, unfortunately it did not reach you.
It pains me to see his old age photographs. It reminds me of how he enjoyed and struggled
with his bowl of noodles when I took him out. Sometimes, I just dont want to think of it.
He is now with our Heavenly Father at Peace.
We will always remember him close to our hearts for he has always loved us, specially his children.
No words can describe how much we missed him.
with all my Love,
Elsie Chua
Thanks Elsie, for posting. This is a good time to remember .... fond memories of him....
ReplyDeleteI read your reminder that he has always loved us .... and Sun's blog that he took her to her 1st interview. It reminds me of him waking us up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, taking me everywhere a whole day, to look for a Pre-U for me, Picking Sun and I up after school when I was in secondary 4. Those things we took for granted... are his ways of saying He loves us. I guess every parent expresses their love differently.
hat's beautiful Daisy. Nice idea to remember Father this way. He did live life in a big way. Everything he did is large and at times excessive.
ReplyDeleteWhat comes to mind are his "industrial sized Ngor Hiang" which he will insist I bring home half a dozen. 1 roll of Ngor Hiang can feed us for a week. I think Jona may still have some in the freezer.
Another excessive thing he did which brought a smile to my face is when he was in Perth. One day he thought he would "prune" the garden in our ullapool road house in Perth. To Mum and our shock when we returned home, he had chop down the whole tree! I must say the house does look different without a tree.
Among the many gifts he has given me in his life (there were some hits and misses e.g. His giant rings that he trys to palm off to me), the most memorable one is the telescope. It was an excellent gift . It really works ! I can see the craters on the moon! Cool! Must have cost a bomb! I'm too scared to ask how much or where he got it from.
While we remember Father I think the most important thing now is to appreciate everyday the precious gift we have with us today. That is mother.
I think she is one of the most wonderful person that I have come across in my life. To think of all the tough times she has gone through in life and then still have so much kindness and love for everyone she meets is truly remarkable. Theres no better evidence of this then the way she honours Ah Kong and Ah Mah even after their passing. She is an inspiration. A truly beautiful person inside and outside. What a gift to us all. I truly think she is so precious and I treasure every day when she is in Singapore and staying with me.
by, Stanley Sia
Sent from my iPhone
that's beautiful Daisy. Nice idea to remember Father this way. He did live life in a big way. Everything he did is large and at times excessive.
ReplyDeleteWhat comes to mind are his "industrial sized Ngor Hiang" which he will insist I bring home half a dozen. 1 roll of Ngor Hiang can feed us for a week. I think Jona may still have some in the freezer.
Another excessive thing he did which brought a smile to my face is when he was in Perth. One day he thought he would "prune" the garden in our ullapool road house in Perth. To Mum and our shock when we returned home, he had chop down the whole tree! I must say the house does look different without a tree.
Among the many gifts he has given me in his life (there were some hits and misses e.g. His giant rings that he trys to palm off to me), the most memorable one is the telescope. It was an excellent gift . It really works ! I can see the craters on the moon! Cool! Must have cost a bomb! I'm too scared to ask how much or where he got it from.
While we remember Father I think the most important thing now is to appreciate everyday the precious gift we have with us today. That is mother.
I think she is one of the most wonderful person that I have come across in my life. To think of all the tough times she has gone through in life and then still have so much kindness and love for everyone she meets is truly remarkable. Theres no better evidence of this then the way she honours Ah Kong and Ah Mah even after their passing. She is an inspiration. A truly beautiful person inside and outside. What a gift to us all. I truly think she is so precious and I treasure every day when she is in Singapore and staying with me.
by, Stanley
Sent from my iPhone