John Hochstadt (former Bidadari Cemetery)

John Hochstadt was the founder proprietor of The Singapore Casket Company. It was established on a rented premises at No. 83 Selegie Road on 3 January 1920. The staff consisted of John Hochstadt, Manager A.C. Neubronner and 4 Pallbearers. In the whole of 1920 when they started, the company only had business of 1 funeral that year. 

It was a slow start of business, his son-in-law, Mr. Charles Burton Webb became the manager on 1 April 1923. The Company moved to a bigger premises at No. 1 & 3 Penhas Road. On 1 April 1940, a Private Limited Company was established with John Hochstadt as Managing Director and his wife, Rose Delphina D'Almeida as Director and Charles Burton Webb as Manager. Business grew and with that they managed to acquire its own premises - No. 129 -133 Lavender Street by 1941. 

The Japanese occupation was tough for everyone, but work continued (with exception of Mr. C.B. Webb who became a prisoner of war and was sent to work at the Death Rail in Thailand) for The Singapore Casket Company. Mr. John Hochstadt passed away in March 1943 while his wife, Rose Delphina Hochstadt passed away in October 1945. 

John Hochstadt tomb in Bidadari Christian Cemetery

John Hochstadt and Rose Delphina (source: NLB)

The marble book on the base reads as follows:

Sacred to the memory of 

John beloved Husband of 

Rose Delphina Hochstadt 

Died 2 March 1943

Aged 72 years

Sacred to the memory of

Rose Delphina

Beloved Widow of

John Hochstadt 

Died 11 October 1943

Aged 69 Years 

The arch of the marble reads:

Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden

John Hochstadt tomb in Bidadari (source: NLB)

Jonh Hochstadt grave in Bidadari (source: NLB)

Singapore Casket Co. Ltd.

Post-war, Mr. C.B. Webb and wife took helm of The Singapore Casket Company (will not cover the post war history of the company).  Mr. C. B. Web had two capable widowed sisters, Mrs. Vera Johnson and Muriel O'Hara to support the company. C.B. Web was the Manager from 1922 to 1946 and Managing Director from 1946 to 1972. His son, Guy Webb became the managing director after his father retired but died 6 months later on 18 August 1972. By 3 January 1980, the company was 60 years and a new 6 storey building stands in place of the old one at Lavender Street. The building, John Hochstadt Building was name after its founder. 

Singapore Casket Co. Ltd (replacement of lost shares)

Singapore Casket Co.  (83 Selegie Road)

Invoice from Singapore Casket -1955 for the marble memorial of the
late Peter Tan Piah Eng in Bidadari Christian Cemetery
(photo courtesy of Tan Engsoo)

[research on-going]

References

Advertisement. (1983, January 23). The Straits Times, page 24

Bidadari Christian Cemetery. Rojak Librarian