Molly Bentley nee Ayres (St. Michael's Catholic Church Ipoh Cemetery)

It was a beautiful marble stone among the tombs in the St. Michael's Catholic Church Ipoh Cemetery. The  words are etched deeply in to the marble stone and fortunately one can read it still;

In Loving Memory 

Of 

Molly Bentley 

(nee Ayres)

Who Fell Asleep in Christ

at 5pm 

on 

30-12-1936

Age - 26 Years 2 Months.

In a world of pain and care, 

Lord, thou wouldst no longer leave her

To thy meadows bright and fair

Lovingly thou dost receive her

Clothed in robes of spotless white

Now she dwells with thee in light

I was also fortunate to able to find a bit more details about Madam Molly Bentley nee Ayres. From further research, i found out her maiden name is Molly Kathryn Ayres. She passed away a year after her marriage and from illness after giving birth.

Molly Bentley nee Ayres

 

Marriage 

From the papers in 16 December 1935 - At the Church of St. John the Divine, Ipoh  - the marriage of Mr. C.O.H. Bentley of the Electrical Department, Tanjong Malim and Miss Molly Kathryn Ayres was solemnised by Rev. F.M. Oliver. The bride wore a charming dress of white silk and was given away her brother, Mr. P. Ayres. Miss MacDougal was the matron of honour while Mr. Dudley Clay performed the duties of the bestman. Mrs. K. Murray was at the organ. The wedding was solemnised by Rev. F.M. Oliver. There was a large gathering at the ceremony and at the conclusion of which Mrs. Ayres, the brides mother, held a well-attended reception at the Celestial Hotel, Ipoh. (Laxamana Road). 

The name Celestial Hotel may not be familiar to many, but if i mentioned Perak Emporium, many older folks will remember this building including me. Built in 1933 for Lam Look Ing, it first housed the Celestial Hotel and Cabaret. Lam Look Ing was a Cantonese tin miner. He went on to own many properties as well. The architect for the building was said to be B.M Iversen (Berthel Michael Iversen (1906–76) )

Celestial Hotel

What is also interesting for me is that Mr. C.O.H Bentley and Molly Kathryn Ayres got married in an Anglican Church, but she is buried in a Roman Catholic Cemetery. 

Death 

The death took place on Wednesday of Mrs. Bentley, wife of Mr. Bentley of the Kinta Electric Distribution Co. Ltd. Mrs. Bentley had been ill since her accouchement (the time after giving birth). Mrs. Bentley was a resident for a number of years in Ipoh, where her mother was a nurse attached to the Ipoh Hospital. She was teaching at the Convent prior to her marriage about a year ago. 

Mother: Mrs. Ayres

Because of the clue that Molly Bentley nee Ayres that mention that her mother was a nurse at Ipoh Hospital, i found a article that mentions a Eurasian Lady was hurt due to a car collision with a rikisha and she sustained a fracture of the arm. The accident took place near Hugh Low Street Bridge owards the direction of New Town. The collision occurred whilst the car was overtaking the rikisha smashing the right wheel of the rikisha but fortunately the puller escaped injury. K. Viapury driver of hire cark Pk. H. 7135 was charged before Mr. C. W. A. Sennett, First Magistrate, Ipoh for causing hurt to Mrs. Ayres, late of the Ipoh Hospital nursing staff. (He was later acquitted). 

There is another picture of a Mrs. Ayres in 1950, but i can't be 100% sure its her. 

Epitaph 

IN A WORLD OF PAIN AND CARE.

LORD, THU WOULDST NO LONGER LEAVE HER 

TO THY MEADOWS BRIGHT AND FAIR

LOVINGLY THOU DOST RECEIVE HER, 

CLOTHED IN ROBES OF SPOTLESS WHITE

NOW SHE DWELLS WITH THEE IN LIGHT. 

References

Eurasian Lady Hurt. (1934, October 19). Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, page 10

Acquitted. (1934, December 3). Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, page 13
Ipoh Wedding. Bentley-Ayres. (1935, December 17). The Straits Times, page 13

Retail Sales. (1937, January 7). The Singapore Free Press, page 11

Untitled. (1950, April 13). The Straits Times, page 16