Having been subjected to family violence for many years, Mdm Koh and her two sons continued to encounter obstacles in their lives after moving out of their home several years ago. The frail 61-year-old elder who had to undergo long term kidney dialysis passed away suddenly on July 31. As they had no other relatives to help them out, the two brothers decided to have a simple funeral for their deceased mother. Tzu Chi volunteers warmed their hearts and soothed their pain by keeping them company all the way.

Volunteers kept Mdm Koh company on her last journey at Mandai Crematorium and presented the consolation money on behalf of the Foundation to the brothers.

Following their mother’s wish, the brothers brought the urn containing her ashes home. The volunteers later helped to set up an altar for it.

Besides suffering from diabetes and kidney disease, Mdm Koh also had deteriorating eyesight and hearing. In January 2009, a social worker in National University Hospital referred her to Tzu Chi Singapore branch as she needed medical subsidy urgently.  

Due to kidney failure, she had to undergo dialysis and became very weak as her condition worsened over time. In March this year, Mdm Koh was transferred to Lions Home for the Elders. As she had difficulty getting about and was unable to sit for long, she had to be transported to and fro between the Home and the dialysis centre through ambulance each time she received her treatment. Her transport and the rental of her sons’ flat were subsidized by another charity. After assessing her case, Tzu Chi Foundation began covering the costs of all her dialysis treatments from March 2009 onwards.

Mdm Koh had two sons aged 32 and 29. In her younger days, she earned a living as a street hawker with her ill-tempered husband. Throughout the years, the lady and her sons led a life plagued by domestic violence. When the sons grew older, they moved out with their mother so as to avoid being further abused by their father. Since then, the mother stopped work and was supported solely by her sons.    

In July last year, the elder son was retrenched due to financial crisis. Unfortunately, the second son lost his job at the same time, while their mother with multiple illnesses had to be hospitalized frequently. With that, the family soon had problems making ends meet, even to the point that the siblings had to lodge at the park. They managed to land a gardening job but were dismissed six months later. As the job market remained gloomy, they had been out of job for nine months now. After taking over the case, Tzu Chi volunteers visited the family and encouraged the brothers to continue with their job search and not to despair.

In June this year, Mdm Koh had one of her legs amputated and her condition worsened to the point that she had to be admitted to the Lions Home for the Elder. She passed away on the morning of July 31.

When the social worker at Tzu Chi learned of her departure, she immediately connected the two brothers with Tzu Chi volunteer Susi and other home visit volunteers who later helped to arrange their mother’s funeral. The brothers were perplexed and lost faced with the sudden death of their beloved mother. As they had no other close relatives, they decided to have their mother’s body cremated on the same day after a simple funeral. FairPrice Casket was very kind to donate the coffin and cover the cost of the family’s funeral.  

On the evening of July 31, 10 Tzu Chi volunteers gathered at Mandai Crematorium and presented the consolation money to the brothers as they accompanied Mdm Koh on her last journey. Deeply moved by their gestures, the siblings held the volunteers’ hands tightly after the cremation. The following day, the volunteers accompanied the siblings to the crematorium to collect the ashes and bring the urn home in accordance with their mother’s wish. The volunteers were surprise to find there was neither table nor chair inside their rented flat. Sister Susi immediately contacted Brother Khoo Kean Yee, a senior local community group leader, to arrange for a table to be sent to their flat where a small altar could be set up for the urn. The two sons then paid their respect to their mother with three prostrations.      

The volunteers’ heart went out to the siblings who looked dejected and upset facing with their mother’s death and the pressure of unemployment. While giving them a copy of Tzu Chi Journal and a booklet filled with Master Cheng Yen’s wise sayings, they said encouragingly, “We got acquainted through your mother and we hope that both of you will move on and work hard for a better future.” The volunteers were glad to see the brothers’ faces softened and seemed much relieved than before.