Neo Seow Cheng's final home in the Columbrium

Alice's niece, Neo Seow Cheng died on 22 August 2008 after a long battle with nose cancer, which later developed into a brain tumour. The brain tumour robbed her of her hearing and eyesight. When it was diagnosed, the oncologist suggested that she goes for treatment and operate to remove the tumour. She refused, and chose to accept that it will be her fate. Despite that she sought alternative treatment and even asked her church's pastor (supposedly good at accupuncture) to treat her. But alas it was a big bluff. Her condition worsen day by day. Her tumour and nose cancer meant that blood dripped out of her nose and she was a sorry sight.

As she become blind, her family decided to sent her to a hospic to wait for the final moment. But four months dragged by and she was still alive. The St. Assisi Hospic asked that she be moved back to her home, which was her wish. On 18 August 2008 she finally went home. By then she was already very weak and have to be carried out of the ambulance to her room.

The family engaged an Indonesian maid to look after her. It was only five days after her return that she succumbed to the disease. On 22 August morning, she asked her younger brother to carry her downstair. But her younger brother said that if he does that, then when it is in the evening, he will still be working and no one will be around to carry her back to her room.

Not long after that conversation with her brother, she breathed her last. Her younger brother checked her breathing and realised that she was gone.

We were informed later in the evening by Ah Sim, her second brother. We actually arranged to visit the family that night, but was told that they will sent her body to Singapore Casket at Lavender Street. It will only be on Saturday evening when we attend the wake.

I decided to inform Fifth Brother's family via his younger daughter, Chai Ling. Chai Ling informed her brothers and sisters.

At the wake, the whole family was there. I was happy that they all bother to make their way there even though they stay in Bukit Batok area.

We left about 11 pm that night ( 23 August 08) and I told Ah Hong, Chai Ling's elder sister that they do not need to come on the day of the funeral, which is on 24 August.

On 24 August, at 09:15 AM, Alice and I were already at the Singapore Casket. I managed to park my car just behind the building.

At about 10:40AM, we all boarded the bus to go to Mandai Crematorium. The Neo's cousins, Ah Seng, Ah Wai, and their older brother were there to sent Seow Cheng off on her final journey.

At Mandai Crematorium, Ah Hong and her husband, Kelvin joined us. They drove directly to the place to take part in the final sent off for Seow Cheng.

After the long prayer session and singing of gospel songs, we were ushered to the Viewing room for Hall 2. Meanwhile, the crematorium's attendants wheeled her coffin to the furnace. At the viewing room, we saw her coffin with all the flowers we put on and her photo were put on top of a motorised vehicle. The vehicle slowly moved the body to the furnace. One stalk of flower dropped to the floor. It was a yellow colour flower. The flowers, Alice and I put on her coffin was orange in colour.

The automated vehicle slowly rise her coffin to the furnace door. Then the main door was closed and we were all ushered out.

During the whole process, Seow Eng and Elsie Neo (her younger sister) cried. I also noticed that Ah Hong was sniffing away. On the way out, I handed Ah Hong my tissue paper. She only took one. Later on in the bus, I gave the rest to Elsie, who was also crying.

Today, I sent Ah Sim, Ah Lim (her younger brother) and Elsie to Singapore Casket to collect her ashes. After the collection, on the way to All Saints Church at Poh Huat Road, Ah Sim told Elsie that Seow Cheng's bones are blackish because of the drugs she took.

At the columbarium at All Saints Church at Poh Huat Road, her ashes were put into Hall 2, Room 6, niche 255. Finally her long journey ended and she should rest in peace now. Her suffering is ended and she most probably can see and hear now.

After the paper work was done, we went to Upper Serangoon Road for lunch It was about 11:05 AM. We had teochew porridge. Not a very good meal. I ordered a trotter, one fish (cod), dou kua, two vegetables and a piece of otah. I do not know the cost, as it was paid for by Ah Sim.

At the Church in Poh Huat Road, Ah Sim wanted to give me a red packet for helping them. I declined as my help was not for monetary gain. I finally accepted the red paper and asked them to take the money back. I told them it will be an insult to me, if they insisted that I take the money. I told this to Alice, who agreed with me.

After sending Elsie to Kovan Heartland Mall, I sent Ah Lim to Tampines Post Office and then sent Ah Sim to his home directly.

After dropping Ah Sim, I was thinking of where to tank up, as my petrol was rather low. As I was passing the Court Megamarket, I decided to pop in to buy some blank dvds. I need them to record the shows for Andrew, so that I can free the space in the hard disk for other recording.

I bought 25 blank dvds and as I got the Court's Guest card, I was given a 5% discount.

On the way home, I stopped at the Esso Petrol kiosk just after Kovan Heartland Mall to tank up on my petrol. It cost me $82.10 before 5% discount.

At home, I parked the car in the drive way and took the blank dvds up. At about 4:30PM, I drove the car out of the drive way and parked it along the road.