Wee Bros. Undertakers, Monumental Masons and Marble Merchants

The first time i saw the Wee Bros. calling card was in the simple marble name plate of Mr. Chew Ah Kak in Bukit Brown some years back. The second time i noticed it was recently this year at St. Joseph Church Cemetery at Bukit Timah. I am sure the Bidadari Christian Cemetery would have more of their calling cards but unfortunately i do not have evidence of any at the moment from Bidadari since that cemetery is gone and documentation photos hardly take note of who the tomb masons were.

Wee Bros. (seen from a tomb at St. Joseph's Church at Bukit Timah)

Marble name slab from Wee Bros (seen in Bukit Brown)

What happened to Wee Bros. company?

I found an article mentioning Wee Bros. up to May 1991. The papers in 1981, 1977 mentioned the location of Wee Bros. to be at 17 Opal Crescent which if you google today is the premises of Peace Casket.

From the website of Peace Casket, i got insight that the Peace Casket was formerly known as Wee Bros. Established in 1923 and known then as Wee Brothers, it was founded by Mr Wee Un Teck, and for a large part of its history, it was kept within the Wee family. In 2001, Mr Peter Yan & his wife Ms Chow Hsun Cheng took over ownership and management and renamed the company Peace Casket.

Who are the people behind Wee Bros. ?

Wee Bros. 1928 advertisement

Mr. Wee Un Teck

The Proprietor and Manger of Wee Bros. was Wee Un Teck. There was an article dated 14 May 1928 in which Mrs. Wee Un Teck nee Tan Siok Nee thank those who attended the funeral of the late Mr. Wee Un Teck. (However what puzzled me is that post May 1928 advertisements still mentions him as the Proprietor).

Mrs. Wee Un Teck nee Madam Tan Siok Bee passed away on 29 June 1956 at the age of 78, leaving behind two sons, Romeo Wee Hong Kiat alias Ah Kow and Tommy Wee Hong Leong alias Bong Soo, two adopted sons, Tan Hong Hock, Lee How Yew, 2 daughters, 3 adopted daughters, 2 daughters-in-law, 2 adopted daughters-in-law, 1 son-in-law, 2 adopted sons-in-law, 65 grandchildren, 1 grandson-in-law, 4 granddaughter-in-law and 5 greatgrandchildren and relatives. Funeral on 1 July 1953 to Straits Chinese Methodist Church and after that to Bidadari.

Mr. Ho Poh Choon

Mr. Ho Poh Choon passed away on 2 September 1931 at General Hospital, Singapore. The cortege left from 155 Selegie Road to Bidadari Christian Cemetery. Mrs. Wee Un Teck, Mrs Ho Poh Choon and family thanked those who attended the funeral of the late Mr. Ho Poh Choon. I am not to sure what was his role in Wee Bros. but the connection is 155 Selegie Road.

Mr. Wee Hong Heng / Henry Wee Hong Heng

Wee Hong Heng (Henry) of Wee Bros. 155 Selegie Road, Syonan died of injuries on 15 February 2602 (1942) leaving behind his wife and baby daughter, mother, brothers and sisters to mourn his loss. [This was reported in Syonan Shimbun on 12 March 1942). From what i gather, Corporal Henry Wee Hong Heng gave his life protecting Singapore. He served under the 2nd Singapore Volunteer Corps, Straits Settlements Volunteer Force.

In short, Henry Wee passed away a day after the fall of Singapore but it was only reported in the Syonan Shimbun on 12 March 1942. The baby daughter is likely to be Cecilia Wee who passed away on 24 March 1942 (slightly more than a month after her fathers death).

Mr. Wee Hong Kiat / Romeo Wee Hong Kiat

The engagement is announced between Mr. Romeo Wee Hong Kiat, manager of Messrs. Wee Brothers (second son of Mrs. Wee Un Teck and the late Mr. Wee Un Teck) and Miss Seet Hock Neo (only daughter of Mrs. Seet Kim Watt and the late Mr. Seet Kim Watt) took place on 25 March 2603 (1943).

To Mr. and Mrs. Romeo Wee Hong Kiat a daughter, Nancy Wee Geok Kim on 12 April 1945 at 155 Selegie Road. Both mother and child well.

At 155 Selegie Road to Drusillia Seet Hock Neo, wife of Romeo Wong Hong Kiat on 16 September 1947, the birth of their 2nd daughter - Lucy Wee Geok Poh

Mr. Romeo Wee Hong Kiat nee Ah Kow of Wee Bros. passed away at the age of 39 on 3 October 1956. He leaves behind, his wife, 2 daughters, 2 sons, a brother and relatives to mourn his loss. Cortege leaves 155 Selegie Road on 5 October 1956 to Bidadari for burial. [Reported on Straits Times on 4 October 1956].

Romeo Wee Hong Kiat of Wee Bros passed away on 3 October 1956 and is survived by;

his wife: Dursilla Seet Hock Neo

2 daughters: Nancy Wee Geok Kim, Lucy Wee Geok Poh

2 sons: Samuel Wee Chin Chye, Daniel Wee

a brother: Tommy Wee Hong Leong alias Bong Soo

Wee Hong Kiat and Seet Hock Neo

Mr. Wee Hong Leong / Wee Hong Leong alias Bong Soo

Nightly prayer services for Mr. Wee Hong Leong (Bong Soo). To be held at Wee Bros, 17 Opal Crescent at 8 pm. The cortege will leave for Toa Payoh Methodist Church and thence to Mount Vernon Crematorium on 13 April 1977 [Reported on The Straits Times, 11 April 1977].