Miss. Tan Hood Neo (Bukit Brown)

The marble tomb with lead etching is in danger of being destroyed and time is ticking as a trunk of tree is slowly wrapping around the tomb and the pressure of it has already caused the marble headstone to crack right across the tomb. While the tomb still exist, we can still read this words:

陳佛娘

In loving remembrance

Chi Chik alias Tan Hood Neo

Eldest daughter of

Mr. and Mrs. Tan Teng Leong

Died on Sunday, The 29th April ?

(10th Day of the 3rd Chinese Moon)

Fortunately, with some deduction by checking the tombs around the area, i am able to find the year she passed away which is 1928. A quick check on the calendar of 1928, 29th April is indeed a Sunday in 1928. A further check in the burial registrar confirms Miss Tan Hood Neo burial entry, although she is listed as 3 years old.

Miss. Tan Hood Neo alias Chi Chik

Mr. and Mrs. Tan Teng Leong 

[Unconfirmed link of Miss. Tan Hood Neo to her parents, but because the timeline matches, i included this in this article for now] 

Mr. Tan Teng Leong (eldest son of the late Mr. Tan Chin Seng and Clerk of the Asiatic Petroleum Co. (SS) Ltd) to Miss Chan Wan Neo (second daughter of Mr. Chan Cheng Kang). The marriage will take place on 8th May 1922.  

His brother, Tan Teng Wee passed away at the age of 28 at his residence, No. 39 Everton Road on 11th December 1927. He is the second son of the late Mr. Tan Chin Seng and brother of Tan Teng Leong. He leaves behind a mother, sister and brother to mourn his loss. Tan Teng Wee is buried in Bukit Brown.

Tan Teng Leong - one of the many civilian war dead that went missing ?

What happened to Tan Teng Leong ? In a 1951 article, more speculation was added to this story. Tan Teng Leong was one of the 9 people that did not report back for work after the war or forwarded any claims for their provident fund. (this includes their next of kin). 

 

Location of tomb 

Miss Tan Hood Neo is buried in Hill 2 Division H, plot 201 

Variant Name

Chi Chik is likely her nickname 

References

Domestic Occurrence. (1922, March 7). Malaya Tribune, page 4

Births, Marriages and Deaths. (1927, December 13). Malaya Tribune, page 8

9 did not return for $3,000 after war. (1951, March 28). The Straits Times, page 7