"Death is merely the extinguishing of the candle because the dawn has come."

Mommy's Birthday : 21st January

A few close relatives and friends got together to remember and honour mom on her birthday. To all those we could not reach in time, we hope this post will let you feel that you too have shared this event with us.

Birthdays were always important to mom and she would always make sure that each of our birthdays are celebrated without fail. No matter how busy we were, she would persist and persevere and somehow manage to find a date when the family can come together for a simple meal and just be together to cherish each other's birthdays.


So when her birthday came near, we wanted to do the same. The day mom was born into this world was a very special day. Not just for us, but also for the thousands of people she has touched.

Dad shared how mom's death has left a huge void in his life.And with the support of friends and family, that void can start to be filled. Dad also quoted a chinese poem which he translated as : when a leopard dies, he leaves behind his skin. When a human being dies, it is their name that is left behind.


This prompted mom's dear friend Dato' Seri Dr. Jagdev Singh to recite this poem, written by James Henry Leigh Hunt (1784-1859):

Abu Ben Adam (may his tribe increase)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace
And saw, within the moonlight of his room
Making it rich, like a lily in bloom
An angel writing in a book of gold.
Exceeding peace made Abu Ben Adam bold
And to the presence in his room he said
'What writest thou?' The vision raised its head
And with a look of all sweet accord
Answered: 'The names of those who love the Lord
'And is mine one?' said Abu.
'Nay not so' Replied the Angel:
Abu spoke more low
But cheerily still and said 'I pray thee then
Write me as one that loves his fellow-men'
The angel wrote and vanished. The next night
It came again with awaking light
And showed the names of whom love of God had blessed.
And lo! Ben Adam's name led all the rest.



My niece, Mike 's daughter Mellissa read out the moving lyrics of a song she had found. So beautiful and apt, it left many eyes sparkling wet.


If You Could See Me Now (Words by Kim Noblitt)







Our prayers have all been answered
I finally arrived
The healing that had been delayed
Has now been realized
No one's in a hurry
There's no schedule to keep
We're all enjoying Jesus
Just sitting at His feet

If you could see me now
I'm walking streets of gold
If you could see me now
I'm standing tall and whole
If you could see me now
You'd know I've seen His face
If you could see me now
You'd know the pain is erased
You wouldn't want me
To ever leave this place
If you could see me now



My light and temporary trials
Have worked out for my good
To know it brought Him glory
When I misunderstood
Though we've had our sorrows
They can never compare
To what Jesus has in store for us
No language can share



If you could see me now
I'm walking streets of gold
If you could see me now
I'm standing tall and whole
If you could see me now
You'd know I've seen His face
If you could see me now
You'd know the pain is erased
You wouldn't want me
To ever leave this place
If you could see me now

Mom's Resting Place In Nirvana

Mom's ashes are stored in a beautiful collumbarium called Nirvana Memorial Centre in Shah Alam, just twenty minutes from home.

It's a very tastefully done up place, with many little considerate touches. I'm so glad Mike and Dad found this place for Mom.

When we went to visit Mom on Christmas Day, we had a very nice surprise : the place was all done up! There were flowers, drapes, chandeliers, music, and even Christmas decorations! That really made our day :)

Here are some photos.

































We're organising a Memorial Service here on Mom's birthday, 21st January 2009. If you'd like to attend, pls post your name and address on this blog, or just call us.

Mom's Henry Dunant Award

I received this from Jaya Maruthan :
Hi Janet, I thought you should know this...En. Hisham, SecGen and I attended the RC/RC Statutory Meetings in Nairobi recently. During the Henry Dunant Medal award presentation ceremony on the first day of the Council of Delegates Meeting, the Movement honoured your dearest mom, the late Datuk Ruby Lee as one of the aw...ard receipients for 2009.

En. Hisham represented the Malaysian Red Crescent up stage while Datin's tribute was read out.
A photo of her flashed over a huge screen decorated the hall while honouring her. It actually gave me the impression that she was watching everything that was happening that evening..

A one minute silence was observed and a standing ovation followed this to pay respect for her selfless contibution to humanity and in particular the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. We were overwhelmed by emotions as we missed her very much...May her soul rest in peace.

Thanks Jaya and En Hisham. I'm really very glad that mom was able to accept the award in person in March this year.

Mom's Birthday is coming soon

Mom was born on 21st January. Dad and I have decided that we will honour that day with a memorial gathering. The day she came to us is just as important as the day she left us.

100 days

It's been a hundred days since mom passed away. One hundred empty days. As dad says, her loss is indescribable. While we each do our best to get through our grief and sadness, it has not been easy arranging for our regular Sunday night family dinners. I realise now that Mom controlled all of us with an iron will and incredible persistence. We had family dinners so often because she was willing to nag us endlessly about which day we're free. Now that it's up to us, I have a better understanding of how mom was the glue that kept us together.

Tonight I think she would be happy. We visited her at the Shah Alam Memorial Park, read some prayers and then we adjourned for dinner. Just the way mom would have organised it :)

4th July : Mom & Dad's 62nd Wedding Anniversary

62 years ago today, mom and dad got married at St. Mary's Anglican Cathedral. They made a promise to each other that they would raise a close knit family. And they did just that. We're having a quiet BBQ at Mike's home tonight.