Outpouring of grief at final farewell to Puan Sri Rosaline
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Puan Sri Dato' Paduka Rosaline Chan Yee Hing was laid to rest at the
Nilai Memorial Park after an emotional farewell from family, friends and
a mutltitude of people whose lives she had touched. "When I learnt
about the grief sweeping Hong Kong, I began to understand that God is
teaching me His ways - and Rose is now an eternal hero to many."
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Kuala Lumpur, 10 August 2006
The funeral service for Puan Sri Dato' Paduka Rosaline Chan Yee Hing at
the home of YTL Group managing director Tan Sri Dato' (Dr) Francis Yeoh
and the family was an emotional one today.
The young and the old came from near and far to say their final
farewell. A long queue stretched outside the house as they patiently waited
their turn to pay their respects and attend the funeral service. The loss
is not felt in Malaysia alone.
Over in Hong Kong, the news of the demise of Puan Sri Rosaline shocked
her homeland, where she enjoyed celebrity status as a TV personality
and actress before she married Tan Sri Francis.
It was a beautiful fairy tale that came true when Rosaline left a
promising career in the limelight to marry a wonderful man and started a
perfect family, blessed with five lovely children. Sadly, the fairy tale
did not end with a 'happily ever after' with her death. The Hong Kong
public never forgot the vivacious Rosaline as the media all over Hong
Kong grieved for a very special daughter, a star that had dimmed.
FINAL JOURNEY: Francis (left, next to car), his children and family members following the procession on foot from the family home in Dalaman Tunku to the National Tennis Stadium in Jalan Duta Thursday. Courtesy from The Star Online.
At the home of Tan Sri Francis and his family, local media had to
contend with Hong Kong media, including TVB, who despatched a team to
document her home in Malaysia and the proceedings of the wake and funeral
service for a special tribute programme.
"When I learnt about the grief sweeping Hong Kong, I began to
understand that God is teaching me His ways - and Rose is now an eternal hero to
many," said Tan Sri Francis. "The children and I always knew that she
will always be in our hearts; today, we know that she is also in the
hearts of so many," he added.
The image of Rosaline smiling as she touched the lives of so many in
her very own personal way will forever be engraved in the hearts of many,
indeed.
Visitors and well-wishers who turned up at the family home to share the
grief and convey their sympathy with the family have been constant
since Puan Sri Rosaline's remains arrived from Singapore after she returned
to the Lord on Saturday night.
The entire house was packed with friends, relatives and staff of the
YTL Group of Companies during the funeral service. Strategically placed
plasma screens provided guests a view of the proceedings in the living
room of the home. The family's favourite hymn, 'It Is Well With My Soul'
was sung while renowned flautist, Andrea Griminelli performed two
pieces.
A thousand bouquets of flowers, with accompanying touching messages of
condolences filled every nook in the house and overflowed outdoors,
filling the air with a heavenly fragrance. Indoors, Puan Sri Rosaline lay
serenely in white, surrounded by a calm that belied the heroic
seven-year battle she fought against cancer.
"She ran a good race," Tan Sri Francis noted, which brings to mind 2
Timothy 4:7 from the Bible:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith.
Indeed, she ran a good race and fought the good fight - her courage and
determination will continue to inspire Tan Sri Francis and their
children: Ruth, Jacob, Joseph, Joshua and Rebekah.
That inspiration fans out beyond the family. Media reports from
everywhere - Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and even in the USA - mark
the significance of this remarkable woman.
Puan Sri Rosaline's warmth and kindness will also be missed by leaders
and dignitaries. His Majesty Yang DiPertuan Agong Tuanku Syed
Sirajuddin and Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Fauziah spent almost an
hour with Tan Sri Francis and his parents, YTL Group executive chairman
Tan Sri Dato' Seri (Dr) Yeoh Tiong Lay and Puan Sri Datin Seri Tan Kai
Yong. Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti
Hasmah Mohd Ali as well as Cabinet ministers also came to pay their
respects.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who arrived with
several members of his family to comfort Tan Sri Francis told the press,
"Our wives were such good friends." The late Datin Seri Endon Mahmood died
in October last year of cancer.
After the funeral service, the procession from the house stretched for
as long as 2km, with Tan Sri Francis and the family walking alongside
the hearse. Behind them, friends and relatives, leaders and members from
the Full Gospel Assembly as well as a multitude of staff made a slow
journey to the Jalan Duta Tennis Stadium.
From there, police outriders escorted the convoy of cars and buses to
Nilai Memorial Park, where Puan Sri Rosaline was laid to her final
resting place. May she rest in peace.
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http://www.ytlcommunity.com/commnews/shownews.asp?newsid=24457