Pastor Alvin Lee Led the Homily

Homily for Aunty Catherine Lee “Coco”
5th Aug 2019, 11am at Mandai Crematorium
Pastor Alvin Lee

Dear family and friends,
Thank you very much for coming today as we mourn together and bid farewell to Catherine, beloved sister, sister-in-law, aunt and grand aunt and friend to so many of us. Your presence today honours her greatly. As much as we grief her passing today, and our hearts are heavy, we are also at the same time comforted to know she is in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Alvin Lee, Coco's nephew (2nd)

As some may know, Coco began to lose her mental abilities at around 55 years old and she spent her last 10 years in various nursing homes. It was heart wrenching to see her slowly fade away. Though her physical body was present the Coco we knew - lively, engaging, caring and who was blessed with a hearty laugh, was increasingly absent. Allow me to share briefly for 10 mins about her fascinating life ….

Coco was born on 31st Dec 1950 in Pontian Malaysia. Im told that while my grandmother was there on holiday, she saw a baby crying away pitifully and her heart went out to the baby. Mama’s compassion compelled her into action. This baby was the 11th child of a poor family and Mama asked if she could take her home and parents gladly said yes - one less mouth to feed.

Kong Kong must have got the shock and surprise of his life when his wife came back with a very cute souvenir! Not keropok or salted fish but a cute baby. They named her Catherine. In her new home, baby Cat found love and acceptance from the Lees and I know my grandmother really doted on her. Cat addressed my Dad as Ah Hia or Big Bro. My father remembered putting her to sleep in those springy baby contraption when she was a baby.

Family and Friends

As an aunt, she lived with Terence, Sharon, Kenneth and I in our growing up years and taught us to lift the toilet seat up after using among other good habits! To us kids, she was Coco and she helped me buy my first LP record – The Carpenters at Liat Towers. This was of course the wonderful 70s where music was listened on radio with DJs Larry Lai, Paul Cheong & the top 10 hits each Sat which Coco introduced me to - Western Union Band, Matthew & the Mandarins, Bee Gees. Some of u may remember makan places such as Silverspoon and Troika. Of course Liat Towers was where Coco worked with my Aunt Ruth at the Physiotherapy Centre, then Orchard Towers for 20 years and she made many friends there. She had funny stories about patients, often Westerners, who were too eager to take off their clothes before 2 young ladies for physio treatment.

Left, my Mom–Aunt Coco's sister-in-law, her maid, Yati, Uncle Harry
and Aunt Swee Eng–siblings of my Mom

She later worked in a designer furniture shop in Holland Village where her artistic and stylish flair won her many customers. Whenever there was a sale, she would save the best pieces for us. Today, we still enjoy her beautiful furniture in our home. In her 40s, she sensed the need for spirituality and found God. She was active in the parish of St. Ignatius Church in Kings Road and served in the offering ministry.

Coco also volunteered with the St. Vincent De Paul ministry to the poor. At family weekend get-togethers, she would always make the best tea – full body, strong, sweet and laced with evaporated milk and never failing to bring treats for Jem and Faith (her grand nephew and niece).

Coco always was grateful to her parents and was a very filial and dedicated daughter. She loved my grandma dearly, visiting her faithfully each week bringing all sorts of gifts until Mama died at 94 years. What are some lessons we can learn and give thanks from Coco’s life? May I suggest 3 to honour her, using the acronym of her name CAT.

Celia, Pastor Alvin's wife, playing the guitar and
Kenneth, Alvin's brother  playing the flute.

Compassion – If anything, her entry into our family was an act of compassion by my grandparents and because of their role modelling, I believed she lived a very fulfilling life. My Kong Kong was a very faithful Christian and his compassion came from God who loves all of us.

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you. – Isa 54:10
God’s compassion was rubbed onto Coco as well, expressed in the many years of ministry where she served the marginalised at SVDP. We visited St Ignatius Church to inform them of her passing on Fri. The staff there were so excited to see her photo and spoke very fondly of her. Her memory sparked joy, even though it has been 11 years since they last saw her! It really moved me to tears to learn of the huge impact she had on her church, how loved she was and her compassion for the less fortunate in our society. Im so glad she will be interred at St Ignatius among her friends & spiritual family. Divinely when I chose her Niche No, it was JS 0168 so in our culture, it is a v blessed number! God is good.

The Interment Service Program

May I suggest that God can use your compassion to make a big difference to the lives of others in ways you cannot imagine. So be compassionate wherever you are – there will be many opportunities to do so. Perhaps a kind word, a listening ear, a call of concern to someone who is lonely or even a small gift. Coco’s life was divinely changed because of the kind compassion of a housewife on holiday in Pontian.

Acceptance – As kids, we always knew that Coco was part of our family and even though she was adopted, she was accepted as a precious daughter of my grandparents. There was no question that Coco belonged with us - her background did not matter one bit. And this can be seen in her self-confidence and acceptance of people. I always enjoy bringing my friends to meet her as she was always warm, engaging and friendly. Cousin Jennifer said it was always fun to talk to her while at A Ruth clinic. My friend Siow Heng who was her customer wrote – Aunty Cat was always so nice to speak with.

Peter Yan, the owner of Peace Casket, came to pay respects with
his son Andrew.Andrew is Jem's good friend from Perth. He did a
brilliant job in organising a most meaningful funeral and made
it so easy for us at this difficult time. Moreover, he surprised
us with a most reasonable rate.Thank you so much Peace Casket
for going the extra mile!

The take home lesson here is no matter what our backgrounds are, no matter what mistakes we have made in our lives, no matter what regrets we may have in life, God accepts us as we are and forgives us of our sins when we turn to him. God accepts us because He loves us – period.

No ifs or buts. In John 6:37, Jesus said – "All those the father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me, I will never drive away." And as God accepts us, we need to accept people no matter where or what their background, and to be their friend. Your life will be truly enriched when we accept people generously just as Coco’s life was so enriched!

Coco's Plaque

Trust – The 3rd lesson we can learn from Coco’s life is one of trust. When she was young, she trusted my grandparents. When she got older, she trusted my father and mom. I remembered an incident when Mom, who had great foresight, suggested that she bought her own HDB flat and grandmother was extremely unhappy about this as Mama thought we were kicking her out of the house.

But despite the protest from her mom, Coco trusted my parents and she bought a small flat at Holland Village with her humble savings. That flat turned out to be a great investment and we discovered later that she was a very savvy investor with her assets. Then at mid-life, Coco learned to trust God for her future and I believe her best years began as she walked with God, enjoyed a loving spiritual community and was used by God to touch many people in so many amazing ways.

Lee Cheng Hoon, Catherine only brother leading the final hymn – There is a land that is fairer than day.

Many have asked me why God allowed her to go through such a difficult 10 years. This is not an easy question to answer but I believe God in his grace somehow prepared Coco for that difficult journey. One of the pastoral staff, Josephine, who faithfully visited her all these years told me how she would respond so positively at these visits until her very end. She never once complained about her lot. Whenever we visited her, in her earlier days she would still flash out a smile even though she could not speak and we could see a sparkle in her eyes esp when my father sometimes sing.

Just as Coco trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ in the later part of her life, perhaps this is a good time for you to make that decision to put your trust in Jesus, to invite him into your life if you have not done so. Jesus died on the Cross for our sins and he rose from the dead, proving He is God. He offers each of us an abundant and purposeful life - for now and for eternity. As God loves Coco, he also loves every one of us.  "Those who trust in the Lord will never be disappointed." – Isaiah 49:23

Coco's urn and Holy Water.

As we say goodbye to Coco, we mourn her passing, not like those without hope but in quiet confidence in the power of the resurrected Christ and promise of eternal life. God was with her each single day of her 68 years and is with Coco now in eternity. She rests secure in God’s good hands.

So farewell dearest Coco, may you rest in peace and in the love of Christ. The sufferings are over and a big welcome party awaits you - especially your parents Kong Kong and Mama. You have blessed all of us and we love you and will miss you! Goodbye for now, until we see each other… in the wonderful presence of our God. Amen.

Father Agus. cared for Coco and conducted the Interment Service.
Her niche is at JS0168 and she passed away at 68.

Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, at this time we say our final farewell to Catherine and we thank you have been with her every step of the way since she was born, through her life and even now as she crosses into your eternal home. May the fond memories she leaves to all of us continue to inspire us to spend our life wisely and indeed, remind us to number our days. Holy Spirit, the great comforter, we ask that you will sooth our pain and bring healing to our hearts in this sorrowful time. We now commit her soul to you, trusting in the steadfast hope we have in the risen Christ - in whose loving name we pray, Amen.