I read the following at Mama’s requiem mass yesterday.
Speaking as one of Maria’s grandchildren, I don’t think I am exaggerating if I say that for Maria, her family was her life. My siblings and I called her Mama.
We had an additional bond with Mama, because she helped our parents to bring us up, and looked after us while they were at work.
Mama holding me at my baptism.
Even after we had left home, she was always thinking, and worrying, about us, cooking for us – she was a great cook and made curries, curry puffs, noodles, all sorts of traditional Chinese dishes, biscotti and all sorts of cakes (for she had many friends from many cultures who helped expand her repertoire). Mama loved sewing and knitting, and made all sorts of things for us. She loved nothing more than having chats with us.
She used to tell us about her earlier years – the difficulties she had bringing up my Dad and my Aunt as a single parent in 1950s Malaysia, and the different jobs she had, from being a prison warden, to a cleaner, and a cook. Mama displayed an entrepreneurial streak – for example, she used to buy and blend spices, to make her own curry powder. I remember this well because I used to be drafted into pack horse duties, accompanying her to Kuala Lumpur spice traders on numerous occasions to buy the spices. The trip there on the bus was usually exciting, but the trip home, lugging heavy bags of pungent nose-tickling spices under the hot tropical sun was less than fun. My sister jl remembers curry powder packaging duties – involving weighing scales and the sealing of plastic bags using candle flame.
Moving to Australia was quite a change and a challenge for us all, and especially so for Mama, I think, given that she didn’t speak English very well. She took it all in her stride, though, and made many friends here.
I know she was also pleased to see her first two great grandchildren, L and E, and I know I will do my best to share my memories of Mama with them when they are old enough.
Thank you all for coming today and helping us to remember and celebrate Mama’s life.
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