SINGAPORE - The wife of late Singapore president Wee Kim Wee - known for her warmth, grace and culinary skills - died on Saturday (July 7), two days after turning 102.
She had celebrated her birthday on Friday with some of her children and two friends at her home in Siglap Plain.
Speaking to The Straits Times, her daughter, Ms Wee Eng Hwa, 75, said Mrs Wee had suffered from some breathing difficulties on Friday, which became worse on Saturday afternoon.
She was sent to Changi General Hospital in an ambulance on Saturday night but could not be resuscitated.
"They did their best, but couldn't find any pulse except for the pace maker. She's now peacefully at rest," said Ms Wee, a lawyer who lived with Mrs Wee.
"She's done us proud, done so much for us, gave us her best."
Born Koh Sok Hiong, Mrs Wee met Mr Wee in 1936, and they married the same year. The couple had seven children - one son and six daughters.
Mr Wee, who was Singapore's president from 1985 to 1993, had described Mrs Wee as his soulmate.
During their 60th wedding anniversary, he said: "She has been wife, mother, cook, tailor, washerwoman, doctor and barber of the family all rolled into one and put in almost 14 to 16 hours daily, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
"Fortunately, for me, there was then no NTUC or trade union to haul me up as a tyrannical exploiter."
The couple were known as gracious hosts, and as president, Mr Wee often invited Singaporeans to the Istana for Mrs Wee's famed Peranakan fare.
Since his death on May 2, 2005, Mrs Wee had kept busy cooking for her close-knit family and had a cookbook of her recipes, Cooking For The President - Reflections & Recipes Of Mrs Wee Kim Wee, published.
The book, which took 21 years to complete, features over 200 recipes and their variations.
Though Mrs Wee had enjoyed most of her golden years in good health, she suffered a stroke in 2015 that left her using a wheelchair.
She was also unable to eat the Peranakan dishes that she loved as she had to be tube fed.
Ms Wee said the family would move the matriarch to the kitchen whenever meals were being prepared so that she could smell and see them doing so.
"She loves Peranakan food, nothing can match that for her," added Ms Wee.
On Friday, the family threw a big celebration to mark Mrs Wee's 103rd birthday according to Chinese custom, which deems individuals as one year old at birth.
About 80 guests including friends and family turned up.
Mrs Wee is survived by six children, 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Her wake will start in the late afternoon on Sunday at 25 Siglap Plain.
SINGAPORE - The late Mrs Wee Kim Wee was an unsung heroine in Singapore's history, said President Halimah Yacob on Sunday (July 8).
In a Facebook post, Madam Halimah said that as the wife of one of the country's most well-loved Presidents, Mrs Wee served the people with grace.
"She was a steadfast advocate of education and providing opportunities for disadvantaged children and youth," Madam Halimah wrote.
"Active in supporting charitable causes in these areas during Dr Wee's presidency, Mrs Wee continued to do so in later years."
Born Koh Sok Hiong, Mrs Wee died on Saturday, two days after turning 102 on Thursday.
She met Dr Wee in 1936, and they married the same year. Dr Wee was Singapore's president from 1985 to 1993, , and he died in 2005.
Madam Halimah said she and her husband were deeply saddened to learn of Mrs Wee's passing.
Among her various contributions, Singaporeans will perhaps most of all remember Mrs Wee for her selfless dedication to the late Dr Wee, Madam Halimah added.
"Throughout their 69 years of marriage, Mrs Wee always stood by and supported Dr Wee. Their love story will remain an inspiration to many."
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said Dr Wee and Mrs Wee served Singapore with distinction.
He told reporters on Sunday that he met Dr Wee and Mrs Wee many times when he was a senior civil servant, and they were always very gracious.
“They have conducted themselves extremely well, they have showed great care and concern for the community, they have done an outstanding job, so I’m very saddened to hear about the passing of Mrs Wee.”
The wife of late former Singapore president Wee Kim Wee - known for her warmth, grace and culinary skills - died yesterday, two days after turning 102 on Thursday.
She had celebrated her birthday on Friday with some of her children and two friends at her home in Siglap Plain.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, her daughter, Ms Wee Eng Hwa, 75, said Mrs Wee had suffered from some breathing difficulties on Friday, which became worse yesterday afternoon.
She was sent to Changi General Hospital in an ambulance last night but could not be resuscitated.
"They did their best, but couldn't find any pulse except for the pace maker. She's now peacefully at rest," said Ms Wee, a lawyer who lived with Mrs Wee.
"She's done us proud, done so much for us, gave us her best."
Born Koh Sok Hiong, Mrs Wee met Mr Wee in 1936, and they married the same year. The teenage sweethearts had seven children - one son and six daughters.
Mr Wee, who was Singapore's president from 1985 to 1993, had described Mrs Wee as his soulmate.
During their 60th wedding anniversary, he said: "She has been wife, mother, cook, tailor, washerwoman, doctor and barber of the family all rolled into one and put in almost 14 to 16 hours daily, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
"Fortunately, for me, there was then no NTUC or trade union to haul me up as a tyrannical exploiter."
The couple were known as gracious hosts, and as president, Mr Wee often invited Singaporeans to the Istana for Mrs Wee's famed Peranakan fare.
Since his death on May 2, 2005, Mrs Wee had kept busy cooking for her close-knit family and had a cookbook of her recipes, Cooking For The President - Reflections & Recipes Of Mrs Wee Kim Wee, published. The book, which took 21 years to complete, features over 200 recipes and their variations.
Though Mrs Wee had enjoyed most of her golden years in good health, she suffered a stroke in 2015 that left her using a wheelchair.
She was also unable to eat the Peranakan dishes that she loved as she had to be tube fed.
Ms Wee said the family would move the matriarch to the kitchen whenever meals were being prepared so that she could smell the food and watch them cook.
"She loved Peranakan food, nothing could match that for her," added Ms Wee.
On July 1, the family threw a big celebration to mark Mrs Wee's 103rd birthday according to Chinese custom, which deems individuals as one year old at birth.
About 80 guests including friends and family turned up.
Mrs Wee leaves six children, 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Her wake will start in the late afternoon todayat 25, Siglap Plain.
SINGAPORE: The wife of the late President Wee Kim Wee died on Saturday (Jul 7). Mrs Wee had just celebrated her 102nd birthday on Friday.
She had suffered from breathing difficulties on Friday, which worsened the next day, according to her daughter, Ms Wee Eng Hwa, who spoke to The Straits Times. She told the paper that Mrs Wee was sent to Changi General Hospital on Saturday night but could not be resuscitated.
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Koh Sok Hiong was best known as the woman behind Dr Wee whom she married in 1936, when he was just a 21 year-old reporter.
The couple's devotion to each other was well-known.
And long before Dr Wee became President, she was already a constant presence by his side in his career, first as a journalist, and then a diplomat.
The couple had one son and six daughters.
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Their marriage played such a central role in his life that Dr Wee included a reflective essay called "Till Death Do Us Part" in his memoirs.
He wrote: "Those who are going to make marriage vows - no matter what form they take - should think seriously about what they mean. Vows are made to be kept and one's word is one's bond."
In a Facebook post on Sunday, President Halimah Yacob said she and her husband were "deeply saddened" on hearing the passing of Mrs Wee and conveyed their condolences to her family.
"Mrs Wee was an unsung heroine in Singapore’s history. As the wife of one of our most well-loved Presidents, she served the people with grace. She was a steadfast advocate of education and providing opportunities for disadvantaged children and youth. Active in supporting charitable causes in these areas during Dr Wee’s presidency, Mrs Wee continued to do so in later years," the President said.
She added that Singaporeans will remember Mrs Wee for her selfless dedication to the late Dr Wee.
"Throughout their 69 years of marriage, Mrs Wee always stood by and supported Dr Wee. Their love story will remain an inspiration to many."
