Farewell, dear Jennifer

 

In the morning of May 5, I received a phone call from Margaret Liew, who told me that her sister, Jennifer, had passed away yesterday.

 

Let's celebrate the life of Jennifer Liew!

She said on May 4, while Jennifer was undergoing dialysis treatment, she collapsed and was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit where she received emergency treatment. She came to for a bit but her heart failed and she quietly slipped away.

 

After Margaret had shared details of the wake and funeral arrangements with me, I assured her that I would help to inform former schoolmates in our group chat.

 

Over the past two years of lockdown, we stayed in touch with Jennifer through our group chats on WhatsApp where she often shared jokes and inspirational memes along with her personal thoughts about her own eventful journey.

 

Chinese New Year 2022 lunch with Jennifer
in the home of Irene Lim

I knew Jennifer was very sick and had spent a number of months recuperating and rehabilitating after surgery on her legs. But this did not stop her from cheerfully chatting with us in the group chat.

 

Jennifer was always good in handicrafts and in spite of her failing eyesight, she kept her hands busy with creating a range of soft toys and knick-knacks.

 

She would sometimes post photos of her handicrafts to show us the cute products she had made and they were so impressive that our friends would ask if they were for sale or if they could place an order from her…

 

Jennifer [Left] with our group meet-up
with Patricia in Singapore

We only met again during Chinese New Year this year when pandemic conditions had improved.

 

This meet-up for our Chinese New Year lunch in the home of Irene Lim, was the first time we met after the global pandemic and the last time I met with Jennifer.

 

As usual I picked Jennifer from home, loaded up her walker-wheelie plus her wheelchair into my car, to facilitate her mobility.

 

Movie time at the mall with Jennifer

She was considerate and insisted that we brought along both items because the wheels of her wheelchair – which was mostly used outdoors – may stain the floors indoors so she would use her walker-wheelie when we went indoors to our friend’s house.

 

On our drive there, Jennifer joyfully shared with me about her faith and told me about how she was recently baptized on Saturday, 22 January 2022.

 

Before showtime at the Johor Arts Fest
with Jennifer and Linda Clark

Each Chinese New Year, Jennifer would generously present Hong Pau or red packets and this year was no different as she would typically present each one of us with a goody bag filled with sweet treats reminiscent of a bygone era like nostalgic Haw flakes, Rabbit sweets and sour-plums.

 

Since Jennifer moved back to Johor Baru in 2014, she did not let her health or weak legs deter her from joining us for outings and gatherings for food and fellowship.

 

Among the many occasions (Read: excuses) for us to meet up, was the 90^th anniversary celebration for the Johor Baru Convent, celebrated in 2015.

 

Jennifer celebrating with her friends in the
Johor Baru Happy and Joyous Club

When our former schoolmates met again in Johor Baru, we took the opportunity to visit our city’s heritage quarter, in a day-long outing that ended with dinner.

 

While Jennifer needed the help of a walking stick, it did not stop her from joining our walking tour which I recorded in, New sights on old streets.

 

As the condition of her legs deteriorated further, she progressed to using a foldable walker-wheelie which gave her better support when we went to the mall or the movies.

 

Jennifer [Left] with friends in the
Johor Baru Happy and Joyous Club

I had the privilege of bringing her to many events including live shows during the Johor Arts Festival and the drum shows that featured the 24 Festive Drums.

 

When Patricia, a former classmate who lives in Adelaide, Australia visited for a stay in Singapore, a group of us in Johor Baru arranged to meet with her and a group of former schoolmates in Singapore for a day trip over lunch, tea and dinner.

 

In May 2016, Jennifer survived a stay in the Intensive Care Unit and recuperated sufficiently to live a full life pursuing her passion in social work with NGOs like the Johor Baru Breast Cancer Support Group, the Happy Joyous Club, the Toastmasters and even to perform with the Befrienders’ ladies drum troop.

 

Jennifer [on wheelchair] with friends to
celebrate World Laughter Day on May 1

Then in November 2016, Jennifer started her first drumming lesson in the art of the 24 Festive Drums and when she performed with the drum troop in January 2017, I documented her journey in, Jennifer's Journey.

 

I also shared the news of her passing with Jennifer’s drum master, Lee Sheah Liang, and after paying his last respects at her wake, he posted a brief tribute on Facebook.

 

Friends from the NGOs whom I met at the wake told me that Jennifer joined them to celebrate World Laughter Day on May 1 and Siew Mei shared their group photos with me.

 

This was the last public event Jennifer attended and friends with the Happy and Joyous Club fondly remembered her high spirits as she participated in the celebration.

 

“She was a gutsy lady. We will miss her,” said Doris Boo, a member of the Breast Cancer Support Group, who met her on May 1.

 

“What a fighter – such an inspiration to all of us,” said Kausar Kassim, a former classmate who admired how well she looked in photos which she posted on FB.

 

Jennifer [on wheelchair] in group shot for World Laughter Day on 1 May 2022

“She always had that positive spirit. So glad she took the challenge to join the drum troop and with great support, she enjoyed the moments,” said Mastura Jaafar, another former classmate.

 

Farewell, dear Jennifer

A plethora of comments and commiserations came pouring in from former schoolmates in our group chat that echoed a similar sentiment, one succinctly summarized by Christina Cheng (based in Perth, Australia) who said:

 

“Oh, what a shock indeed. So sad to hear that dear Jennifer has left us. She really lived life to the full despite her poor health and kept our spirits lifted with her text messages. Eternal life now in the loving arms of God.”

 

I smiled when I read what her drum master wrote on FB and agreed with him that Jennifer may have started rocking the heavens right away and was already drumming on the clouds…

 

Farewell is not goodbye, dear Jennifer. Till we meet again on that beautiful shore.