The Memorial Mass of Thomas And Rose Khaw ...6 May 2023

The Memorial Mass was held at Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Balik Pulau 

In early of May 2023 I accompanied Ignatius and Pauline Chew to attend the memorial mass of Thomas Khaw Cheng Bor and Rose Lee Moi Kwee. Both died during the pandemic with Rose going first and Thomas a year later. A year after the MCO was removed the children Moira, Eugene and Leonard held their parents memorial.

The memorial mass was held at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, a beautiful 150 years’ old heritage church located in Balik Pulau. All three children were present as were their grandchildren, relations, some of Thomas’s former students and neighbours. It was a wonderful turnout.

The mass was celebrated by Father Nelson with Leonard Khaw assisting as  commentator.

Family and friends atttended the memorial .......

Mass was celebrated by Fr Nelson assisted by Leonard (far right) 

...the final hynm ..How Great Thou Art 

The family at the Holy Name of Jesus Church ...

The little breakfast get together was lovely. Moira Khaw had ordered her parents favorite curry puffs in three different flavors and it went well with a hot drink for a memorable breakfast. 

(Left) Eugene, Moira and Leonard Khaw and Daryl. (R.l/r) Patrick Tan and his sons Philp Tan and Tan Mei Leng, David Tan and Celestine Tham

(Seated l/r) . Khaw Teik Gim, Judith-Eugenes Wife, Daryl Alexander, Pauline Chew. (Standing) Khaw Ming Fei & Khaw Ming Zhe s/o Khaw Teik Gim, Ignatius Chew, Patrick Tan, Eugene Khaw, Leonard Khaw, David Tan & Celestine Tham, Philip Tan & Tan Mei Leng

L/r Andrew Lim (3rd from left son of Lily Khaw) and family Shally (wife), Elyse and Erwyn, Lim Gin Heng (daughter of Alice Khaw) with her son Isaac Pon, Lim Chin Beng s/o Alice and wife Vivian and Evelyn Goh (d/o Ong Choo See) with husband.

(l) Former students of Thomas (r) neighbours of the Khaws

Thomas was the eldest descendant of Chew Boon Juan and Goh Lian Kee. His mother Chew Gaik Tuan was the eldest child of the Chews who married Khaw Bian Wan.

Thomas was born in 1925.  He lived with his Chew grandparents in “4 Gurney Drive until 1930 when he started school“ but returned every school holiday.  

 He lived in Penang and in Ipoh and worked in Ban Hoe Seng until the death of his father in 1949. He was like a walking encyclopedia of the Chew family history.

(L) 2018. My first meeting with Thomas and Rose. (r) Thomas 'a walking encyclopedia' of the Chew Family

I first met Thomas and Rose in 2018.  I followed Ignatius and Pauline Chew to interview Thomas about Chew Boon Juan. Thomas and Ignatius are cousins. Ignatius Chew has alway described Thomas as being humble, polite and cheerful and those were the same words echoed by those that i interviewed.  

The lunch after the mass was held at the Chinese Recreation Club another beautiful heritage establishment. 

When Ignatius Chew walked into the club he immediately took a photo with the donors list taking note of his grandfather, Chew Boon Juan's contribution. However once in the lunch hall Ignatius was busy meeting all the relatives and getting updates. 

Pauline points to the name of Chew Boon Juan (Ignatius grandfater) on the donors list of the Chinese Recreation Club 

L/r Michael Tan, Moira Khaw, Freddie Ng, Angeline Chew, Pauline Chew, Ignatius Chew and Toni Chew

Standing. Michael Tan, Ivan Tan, Leonard Khaw, Cornelia Tan and Ignatius Chew

According to Moira the menu for the lunch was what her parents regularly ordered at the club. 

At the end it was fun gathering of relatives and friends of Thomas and Rose to reminisce them once again.

JAG