Remembering Mary Chua (Qing Ming 2021)

Mary Chua was only 5 years old when she passed away on 10 May 1951. It must have been a devastating moment for her parents to lose their daughter at a such a young age. I passed this tomb a few times while exploring Lao Sua at the old Lorong Halwa Road. Although not easily visible from the road, this tomb has touched me because it is one of the few ones in that area that has pictures of little children. Including Mary Chua, i only encountered another baby tomb with a picture in this area outside Bukit Brown. We have cleaned her tomb before, but the jungle around that area is one on steroids and its get overgrown very fast. That being said, Qing Ming period offers the chance for many of us to observe this intangible cultural heritage practice and also sometimes the opportunity for oral interview with the descendants that do help us give insights to the personalities buried in Bukit Brown and Greater Bukit Brown. Today i was shocked and of course pleasantly surprised to see a large number of people visiting little Miss Mary Chua ! If Mary Chua was alive today, she would have been 75 years old.

Mary Chua 

The group of people that i encountered visiting for Qing Ming included Mary's younger brother, sister and her nephews. It is from them, i gathered insights that Mary was from a family of 10 siblings. Although Mary Chua's parents have already since passed away many years ago (and some of the older siblings as well), the remaining siblings continue to pay visit to their "baby" sister Mary Chua on a yearly basis during Qing Ming and they always come fully prepared with the tools to clean the surrounding area. 

I am indeed touched by this whole event as it shows that the family bond and sibling love and strong ties was past down from their parents to their children. I am sure the surviving siblings did not have deep memories of Mary (as she died young ) and that they were either toddlers themselves or not born yet. In fact when i asked why Mary Chua had a "Christian" name and why the rest of the Chua's didn't have one - it was a funny moment when they looked at each other and responded: - they don't know ! Well, it didn't matter. What matters is that the Chua family ties, bond, love and filial piety that has continued for more than 70 years and i am sure for many more more years to come. After their prayers, the family walked all the way out to the main Kheam Hock Road.

Cleaning up the tomb of Mary Chua. Mary Chua's younger brother in orange shirt.

Huat ah ! Heng ah ! Celebrating family bonds with Mary Chua  and offering of prayers

This article is dedicated to the memory of Mary Chua and i am grateful to her family who kindly allow me to take photos of this private moment and to shared her story with me. May this story be an example to the rest of us to keep fighting to keep this space called Bukit Brown and Greater Bukit Brown intact. It is not a useless space. It is not an abandoned cemetery. It a space that holds memories for many. It is space that helps bond the past and present and shape our future. It is a space that keeps us rooted to this land called Singapore. It is also a Green Lung  and Carbon Sponge Space. It is a space were Singapore's bio-diversity can co-exist with our heritage too and that indeed what makes this a unique space in Singapore. So please protect and defend this space. 

Remembering Mary Chua

The other baby tomb that is nearby here below:

Miss Ong ( 2 years old, 1958-1960)

Related articles from Qing Ming observation

Ang Jin Siew. (Posted on 10 April 2019)

Brothers buried side-by-side. (Posted on 9 April 2018)

Qing Ming in Bukit Brown. (Posted on 2 April 2017)

Qing Ming in Bukit Brown. (Posted on 26 March 2014)
Last Qing Ming for some residents(Bukit Brown). (Posted on 1 April 2014)
Exhumations in Bukit Brown. (Posted on 8 July 2014) 
Qing Ming at Bukit Brown. (Posted on 6 April 2012)

Happy Palm Sunday and take care !

To You, O Lord,

we humbly entrust this child,

so precious in Your sight.

Take her into Your arms

and welcome her into paradise,

where there will be no sorrow,

no weeping nor pain,

but the fullness of peace and joy

with Your Son and the Holy Spirit

forever and ever.

Amen.