Tan Tiang Neo (Mrs. Neo Teck Swee), Death 27 Dec 1925, Malacca

Malayan Saturday Post, 14 March 1925, Page 15

OBITUARY.

The Late Mrs. Neo Teck Swee.

The death took place on Monday, 27th December, of Mrs. Neo Teck Swee, nee Tan Tiang Neo, the mother of Mr. Neo Ong Hee, J.P., at 157 Heeren Street, whose photograph appeared in last week's issue of this paper. The deceased lady had reached the ripe old age of 85 years. She was the only surviving daughter of the late Mr. Tan Tock Seng, the donor of Tan Tock Seng Hospital to Singapore. She had three brothers, Messrs Tan Kim Cheng, Tan Siew Lim, and Tan Teck Guan and three sisters. The late Mr. Tan Kim Cheng was at one time acting Consul-General for Siam in Singapore, and the late Mr. Tan Teck Guan was a J.P., for the Settlement of Malacca, and a Municipal Commissioner. The deceased left two sons, Messrs. Neo Ong Tew, and Neo Ong Hee, J.P., and ex-Municipal Commissioner for Malacca, and one daughter, Mrs. Tan Chin Tee, and many grand sons and grand daughters and great grand children to mourn her loss.

Impressive Funeral.

The funeral took place on the 31st idem. It was an imposing though simple procession and the coffin, surmounted by a magnificent catafalque or Kwantah and presenting a most picturesque appearance, was borne on the shoulders of 64 men dressed in black, provided by the Keng Teck Whay. Preceded by three Chinese priests from the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the procession wended its way through the principal streets of the Town on its way to the last resting place of the departed. Following behindthe coffin was the long train of mourners comprising the sons, daughters, grand-sons, grand-daughters, great grand-sons and great grand-daughters, and other relatives of the deceased lady. The principal mourners were dressed in sackcloth and they were: Mr. Neo Ong Hee, Mr. & Mrs. Neo Ong Tew, Mrs. Tan Chin Tee, Mr. & Mrs. Neo Yew Jin, Mr. & Mrs. Neo How Tay, Mr. & Mrs. Neo Tong Kee, Mr. & Mrs. Loh Kim Swee, and Dr. & Mrs. B. H. Ong. A large attendance of prominent Malacca Citizens had also turned out to pay their respects and there was also a big assembly of the Lam Hwa Kongsi men of whom Mr. Neo Ong Hee is the Headman. This party took over the carrying of the Coffin from the Keng Teck Whay men when the procession was just in front of the Clock Tower. With the exception of Scrolls from the Keng Teck Whay, Lam Hwa Kongsi, Mr. Loh Kim Swee and Dr. B. H. Ong, the others were kindly refused, it having been decided to observe the utmost simplicity in the funeral rites. Wreaths were also not much in evidence for the same reason and the few that were accepted were kept in the house and did not form any part of the procession. The cortege arrived at the scene of the burial at about 1 p.m. and there after the final obsequies had been rendered the day's ceremony ended with the lowering of the coffin into the depths of Mother Earth. Amongst those present at the graveside were Captain and Mrs. A. C.Baker, Mr. E. H. Wilson of the High School. - (Cor.)