(This is reproduced from the posting I made on my Facebook Page on 1st October 2024.)

My 2nd sister Hii Chee Ing has lost her battle to the big C, and passed away peacefully in our hometown Sibu last Sunday, aged 72. She is survived by her husband Tony Yii, children Francis, Annie, Cecilia and Michael and 5 grandchildren. My sister had always been the quiet and low profile type, tirelessly tending to her household chores and exhaustingly looking after her grandkids, two of whom are autistic.

When I was in primary school, she was tasked with tutoring me after school hours, and I couldn’t remember her getting annoyed or frustrated even once with my lack of attention or improvement in my studies. When she was diagnosed with kidney cancer, we tried to find her the best possible treatment. She went through the tough chemotherapy regime with silent courage and perseverance.

I consider losing her as a very sad moment, as she was the one who gave me some of my fondest childhood memories. And now, she has become a memory herself. Chee Ing has joined our siblings 3rd brother Chee Chu and 4th brother Chee Ong, both of whom also succumbed to illnesses years back, as well as our late parents, in a better and heavenly place. I really don’t believe that those whom we loved would just fade away. They’re watching over us everyday, unseen, unheard, always near and yet so far.