The End of the Tyranny

Heh! I know this probably isn't a very polite title when you're talking about your grandmother's funeral, but Grandma, or AhPor as we call her, would have seen the humour in this. She was a funny woman and you'll see her influence in the family. We're all funny, happy people. Besides, I felt it was important to set the tone that this isn't one of those sad posts, so no more condolences, please. :) Also, in case you're wondering why "tyranny", well, she used to beat the crap out of the most of us.

Here's a pictorial.


Everybody thought AhPor looks nice in this picture. But in all honesty, I never felt it captured the essence of the woman. A true picture of Grandma would have her with a rollie on her lips and her right leg propped up on her chair.


As far as Jesse is concerned, it was just another road trip. It was the departure of his very last great-grandparent. She was 91.


For the wake, they blocked up the whole of Harrison Street. Sorry folks!


The funeral was conducted by a Taoist Sifu from Taiwan. He looked like he came right out of a Bruce Lee movie.


As the Sifu conducted the proceedings, our boy decided to steal the limelight, running up to the front and making a spectacle of himself. Just look at that cheeky monkey! We'll punish him when he turns 16.


The day of the funeral was the most moving for me. It was for Uncle Ricky too. Of the whole family, Gran probably spanked us the most. Must be why we missed her most too.


Grandma wanted a celebration more than a funeral. She told Mom to keep things light, to tone down the mourning and to tune up the music. Mom hired a band of cool old guys who played plenty of Teresa Teng music.


A lot of of family had embraced Christianity and Grandma understood that some Christians had problems with jossticks. So she decreed that Christians would hold a flower for her. No arguments, no debates, no internal struggle, nothing. It's a nice little gesture on her part, I thought.


Unlike most traditional Chinese funerals, the Taoist sifu had us carry the casket onto the hearse. He felt that it was appropriate that loved ones do this. I think so too but my opinion doesn't count since I'm behind the camera while my siblings and cousins did their thing.


Grandma's family consisted her 5 kids, 1 adopted son, 1 godson and his wife, 3 daughters-in-law, 1 son-in-law, 18 grandchildren, 3 great-grandkids, and a whole bunch of distant cousins.


Okay, okay, we did it. The haze started in Taiping.


Grandma was laid to rest right next to Grandpa who left 15 years earlier. Despite her tough Clint Eastwood-esque exterior, she was hopelessly in love with Gramps so it was good that they're together again at last.


Grandma lived a long, fulfilling life. And she left behind a legacy of laughter, love and of course, pain-as-hell canings! Yeah, she beat the crap out of us all the time and yet we all loved her to bits. Still, as a precaution, we didn't bury any of her Rotans with her in case she decides to cane us someday in the afterlife. Heh.

Goodbye AhPor. It's been a ride.