Mrs. Chia Toon Whatt nee Madam Giam Chye Neo (Bukit Brown)

The marble headstone is in danger of breaking with the fig tree growing behind it slowly pushing the headstone further down.

Beneath the altar table, the marble stone after some cleaning reads;

In remembrance

 of 

Madam Giam Chye Neo

beloved wife

 of 

Mr. Chia Toon Whatt. 

Madam Giam Chye Neo passed away at the age of 39 on 17 December 1927. 

The names of their children;

Son : Chia Kim Onn

Daughter: Chia Bi Neo, Chia Chwee Neo, Chia Chin Neo, Chia Kim Neo, Chia Quek Neo, Chia ? (some names i can't make out)

Mrs. Chia Toon Whatt nee Madam Giam Chye Neo 

Husband: Chia Toon Whatt / Chia Toon Watt

Mr. Chia Toon Whatt passed away at the age of 62 at his residence, 554 Sims Avenue (off Lorong 37, Gayland Road) Singapore on Sunday, 7 April 1940. He left behind;

8 daughters, 

4 sons-in-law: Messrs. Tan Cheok Chua, Tan Bah Chee, Liow Tiow Kee and Lim Yew Hock,

1 future son-in-law: Mr. Tan Cheok Sua

and 17 grandchildren. 

He was buried in Bidadari Cemetery. 

Reported in 1928 to be facing bankruptcy at the age of 50 years old - He attributed this bankruptcy to his expenses incurred in the support of his large family - he was a father of 10 and also expenses because of  his sickness. Chia Toon Whatt who employed as clerk by Fraser and Company, said that after 19 years of service, he was served with a notice that his service was no longer needed and his last drawn salary was $300 a month. He was discharged from bankruptcy eventually in 1937.  

Brother-in-law: Chia Hock Watt 

Chia Hock Watt passed away at the age of 50 on 12 March 1925 at his residence No. 84 Desker Road. He is the brother of Mr. Chia Toon Watt and Chia Yean Watt.  Deceased leaves a widow, 3 sons (Messrs. Chia Yin Poh, Chia Yin Lock, Chia Yin Kin and 3 daughters. He is buried in Bukit Brown, Block 1 Division F, plot 304.. 

Family

Daughter: Chia Chin Neo /Chia Ghin Neo / Mrs. Liow Tiow Kee.

Their wedding was  reported on 14 February 1931. Madam Chia Chin Neo / Chia Ghin Neo is the third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chia Toon Whatt. 

The wedding of Mr. Liow Tiow Kee of Telok Kurau English School 
to Miss Chai Ghin Neo (third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chia Toon Watt)

The wedding of Mr. Liow Tiow Kee of Telok Kurau English School 
to Miss Chai Ghin Neo (third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chia Toon Watt) 1931

Daughter: Chia Kim Neo / Mrs. Lim Yew Hock 

The engagement was announced between Mr. Lim Yew Hock (eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lim Teck Locke) and Miss Chia Kim Neo (fourth daughter of Mr. and the late Mrs. Chia Toon Whatt). This was reported in the newspapers on 6 February 1936. The marriage took placed at the United Chinese Library, Armenian Street on 12 January 1937. 

Second Merdeka Talk 1957 - Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock with family members before his departure for London (source: National Archives)

Lim Yew Hock went on to be the Chief Minister of Singapore from 1956 to `959. The photo above are Lim Yew Hock and his wife Daisy Chia Kim Neo together with their children, Eulindra Lim Shirley Lim, Iris Lim And Adeline Lim (the youngest girl in front).  Their marriage ended in divorce. What happened subsequently to Daisy Chia Kim Neo ? 

Daisy Chia Kim Neo (photo of her from 1931)

Daughter: Chia Keok Neo / Dorothy Chia Keok Neo

The engagement was announced of Mr. Tan Cheok Sua alias Johnny (the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Yew Seah of Singapore) to Miss Chia Keok Neo alias Dorothy (the seventh daughter of Mr. Chia Toon Whattt and the late Madam Giam Chye Neo of Singapore). This article appear in the newspaper article dated 16 March 1940.  

Daughter: Chia Cheng Neo / Leonie Chia Cheng Neo / Mrs. Tan Kwang Seng

The marriage between Tan Kwang Seng (second youngest son of Mrs. Tan Hoo Kok and the late Tan Hoo Kok) and Leonie Chia Cheng Neo (youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs Chia Toon Whatt ) took place at the Geylang Methodist Church on 4 January 1947.

[research on-going] 

Location of tomb 

Block 2 Division H, plot 355

Mrs. Chia Toon Whatt nee Madam Giam Chye Neo 

Mrs. Chia Toon Whatt nee Madam Giam Chye Neo tomb in Bukit Brown
(photo taken in 19 September 2026)

References

Deaths. (1925, March 14). The Straits Times, page 8

Bankruptcy Court. Liability of Provident Contributions. (1928, November 24). Singapore Free Press, page 10 

The Wedding of Mr. Liow Tiow Kee of Telok Kurau English School to Miss Chia Ghin Neo, third daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Chia Toon Watt. (1931, February 14). Bintang Pranakan, page 19

Untitled. (1931, May 2). The Malayan Saturday Post, page 20 

Marriage. (1937, January 12). Malaya Tribune, page 9

Advertisement. (1937, October 28). Malaya Tribune, page 3 

Demestic Occurrences. (1940, March 16). Malaya Tribune, page 13

Death. (1940, April 8). The Straits Times, page 2

Advertisement. (1947, January 13). The Straits Times, page 4

Lim Yew Hock. (Singapore Infopedia). National Library Board, Singapore

Second Merdeka Talks -Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock with family members before his departure for London. (website). National Archives