R.I.P. CHOW LYE MENG: KIRKBY 1959-1960

This morning while I was at the hospital for my appointment, Lean Aing rang me to inform me that our dear Chow Lye Meng had passed away. She received the news from Cheah Phee Eng.

Chow Lye Meng, I’m told passed away peacefully in her sleep. Early Wednesday morning, 16 November 2011, it was discovered that Lye Meng had passed on.

She is survived by her husband, three children – two daughters and a son -  five grandchildren and her aged mother who is 92 years old.

I recall Lye Meng as a very beautiful, attractive and charming person. She had a very sweet, captivating smile. She always had that smile on her face and came across as a very friendly person. Samsiah remembers her as “a lively and lovely person”.

During the Whitsun holidays in 1959, a few of us, including Lye Meng, joined the group organised by Gan Chin Seng, our Senior, and visited Ireland. We had a wonderful time visiting castles, riding horses and travelling in horse carriages. We hired cars and visited many places of interest.

On returning to Malaya, Poh Yuk and I met her outside the Whiteaways in Kuala Lumpur. She was window shopping! We had a very brief pleasant exchange and then we left leaving Lye Meng window gazing! After that our paths never crossed until 2004.

In 2004, Penang organised the first biennial Kirkby Reunion. Lye Meng and her husband attended this get together. Those of you who still have the Souvenir Magazine that was published would find Lye Meng on page 15 and page 31.

After that she attended the subsequent Reunions as well - in 2006 in Perak and 2008 in Malacca. Her husband video-taped these Reunions and the CDs were made available to friends.

Unfortunately she could not attend the Penang Reunion in July 2010 and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the 1959-1960 Kirkby batch in December 2010 at the Sime Darby Convention Centre.

The last time that I met Lye Meng was in 2008 in Malacca. After that, she was in my email loop receiving all that I circulated. I have received 88 email responses from her – the first time was on 2 September 2008 and the last one was on 25 September 2011:

Re: Fw: Whenever you are down watch this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfL2U0BJ48g&feature=related

Sunday, September 25, 2011 10:06 AM

 

THanks Rama. I think its more for my son and family.    Lye meng

 

Lye Meng’s funeral will be on Monday 21 November 2010.

Phee Eng had very kindly sent a wreath on behalf of all Kirkbyites bearing the following message:

FROM ALL YOUR KIRKBY FRIENDS

WE WILL MISS YOU, DEAR LYE MENG

Those of you wishing to convey your condolences may ring her husband, Mr Foong Weng Yew at 012-5181 288 or email him at: wyfoong888@gmail.com

Well, friends, life goes on diminishing our numbers and leaving us with a lot of sad but fond memories. In the days ahead, ruefully we are bound to hear more devastating news of our dearly parted Kirkby friends.

With very warm regards,

Rama