‘We miss her laugh, her warmth’: Family, friends remember NUS undergrad Kathy Ong, who died in a taxi crash
“She said, 'Daddy, we don’t need a bigger house. We only need a home'. That was what Kathy was like.”
SINGAPORE: “It’s difficult to cope. At the start, I really couldn’t sleep,” said Kathy Ong’s mum Jacqueline Ng, describing the loss of her 19-year-old daughter after a taxi driver’s negligent actions caused her death.
“I feel that what is missing is all her laughter. When she was at home, she laughed a lot,” Jacqueline recalled. “We don’t know what we’re going to do moving forward, without her.”
Her parents Jacqueline and Keith feel the pain of losing Kathy as strongly as the day she died on Apr 19 last year.
“Every weekend I will fetch her from Tembusu, bring her home and then end of the day, we will do laundry together, fold her clothes … that’s when we spend time to talk and then, I will send her back,” Kathy’s dad Keith recalled.
“I’ve been doing this (since she started uni), and suddenly, now, the whole weekend (has) become so quiet and empty for us.
“You're literally lost … before that, you’re looking whether to work hard, earn more money, provide better for the family. But it’s like, suddenly, with the loss of her, both of us are like ‘What are we working for? What are we slogging for?’”
Her mum added: “To me, she was not just a daughter. We would go shopping together, go for high tea together, drink coffee together, we shared clothes, shoes - so suddenly, it has become so meaningless.
“It’s difficult to cope. (At the start), I really couldn’t sleep. I can hear the doctor’s conversation to me, to tell me they can’t save my daughter.
“I can remember - word for word - I can exactly hear his voice, every night … it was really very tough for me.”
OUTSPOKEN AND WARM
As a young girl, Kathy was outspoken, warm and loving. The former Juying Primary, Nan Hua Secondary and Anglo-Chinese JC student was popular among her peers, drawing friends from different walks of life.
Growing up, she was a proficient musician - playing the piano, harp and guitar. Pitch perfect and with a keen musical ear, she could listen to a song and reproduce it.
But it wasn’t only music which drew people to her.
“‘Are you okay?’ That’s what she would always ask,” her secondary school friend Ng Ming Qian said.
“She would always remember what’s the last thing you were worried about, and she would check back with you.”
Childhood friend and neighbour Eunice Liew had known Kathy since they were six years old. They went to the same schools growing up.
“Kathy was a very affectionate person. Every time I (saw) her, she would get really excited,” Eunice explained.
“She would run to you and hug you. It happened every time - even if I saw her three times a week. She’s very bubbly, a people person and made a lot of friends everywhere she went.”
That caring nature was well known among her friends. For university mate Chloe Lim, it was the little things Kathy did for those around her, such as leaving food and notes for her friends in Tembusu College, or giving them hugs as a form of encouragement.
“She’s a very warm person. You could always look for her when you’re going through something difficult, and she would always comfort you,” Chloe recounted.
Since Kathy’s death, special occasions - such as anniversaries, Christmas and birthdays - have been especially hard. Kathy, her parents' only child, died on the anniversary of her baptism, an important date for her family.
“Every special day that will be painful for us, (her friends) will make sure we are well taken care of, like celebrate with us. They will come and spend time with us,” Jacqueline said.
“Like mother’s day, father’s day ... we can feel a lot of people showering us with a lot of love.”
For the couple, the memory of Kathy is something they hold fast to. Every three or four times a week, they will spend evenings at St Teresa church, Kathy’s final resting place.
“It was the loving care she showed towards the both of us. Every time she saw us, it’s hugs - even after she went to university, every time she saw us, she (would) hug us,” Keith said.
His wife added: “When we went shopping, she would hold your hand, wrap herself around your arms.
“There was a period I fell ill, and was in and out of hospital. No matter what, she would bring her homework, no matter how tired she was, she would come and lie with me in bed, you know? That’s the part I feel most precious.”
Kathy’s death has hit her family friends hard. Hundreds came to say their final farewells at her funeral. As her mum recalled Kathy’s sensitive nature, a smile formed on her lips.
“I remember there was once, my husband said, ‘I wish we could own a bigger house’. She said, ‘Daddy, we don’t need a bigger house. We only need a home’.
“That was what Kathy was like.”
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...xi-driver-yap-kok-hua-crash-clementi-11813398
“She said, 'Daddy, we don’t need a bigger house. We only need a home'. That was what Kathy was like.”
SINGAPORE: “It’s difficult to cope. At the start, I really couldn’t sleep,” said Kathy Ong’s mum Jacqueline Ng, describing the loss of her 19-year-old daughter after a taxi driver’s negligent actions caused her death.
“I feel that what is missing is all her laughter. When she was at home, she laughed a lot,” Jacqueline recalled. “We don’t know what we’re going to do moving forward, without her.”
Her parents Jacqueline and Keith feel the pain of losing Kathy as strongly as the day she died on Apr 19 last year.
“Every weekend I will fetch her from Tembusu, bring her home and then end of the day, we will do laundry together, fold her clothes … that’s when we spend time to talk and then, I will send her back,” Kathy’s dad Keith recalled.
“I’ve been doing this (since she started uni), and suddenly, now, the whole weekend (has) become so quiet and empty for us.
“You're literally lost … before that, you’re looking whether to work hard, earn more money, provide better for the family. But it’s like, suddenly, with the loss of her, both of us are like ‘What are we working for? What are we slogging for?’”
Her mum added: “To me, she was not just a daughter. We would go shopping together, go for high tea together, drink coffee together, we shared clothes, shoes - so suddenly, it has become so meaningless.
“It’s difficult to cope. (At the start), I really couldn’t sleep. I can hear the doctor’s conversation to me, to tell me they can’t save my daughter.
“I can remember - word for word - I can exactly hear his voice, every night … it was really very tough for me.”
OUTSPOKEN AND WARM
As a young girl, Kathy was outspoken, warm and loving. The former Juying Primary, Nan Hua Secondary and Anglo-Chinese JC student was popular among her peers, drawing friends from different walks of life.
Growing up, she was a proficient musician - playing the piano, harp and guitar. Pitch perfect and with a keen musical ear, she could listen to a song and reproduce it.
But it wasn’t only music which drew people to her.
“‘Are you okay?’ That’s what she would always ask,” her secondary school friend Ng Ming Qian said.
“She would always remember what’s the last thing you were worried about, and she would check back with you.”
Childhood friend and neighbour Eunice Liew had known Kathy since they were six years old. They went to the same schools growing up.
“Kathy was a very affectionate person. Every time I (saw) her, she would get really excited,” Eunice explained.
“She would run to you and hug you. It happened every time - even if I saw her three times a week. She’s very bubbly, a people person and made a lot of friends everywhere she went.”
That caring nature was well known among her friends. For university mate Chloe Lim, it was the little things Kathy did for those around her, such as leaving food and notes for her friends in Tembusu College, or giving them hugs as a form of encouragement.
“She’s a very warm person. You could always look for her when you’re going through something difficult, and she would always comfort you,” Chloe recounted.
Since Kathy’s death, special occasions - such as anniversaries, Christmas and birthdays - have been especially hard. Kathy, her parents' only child, died on the anniversary of her baptism, an important date for her family.
“Every special day that will be painful for us, (her friends) will make sure we are well taken care of, like celebrate with us. They will come and spend time with us,” Jacqueline said.
“Like mother’s day, father’s day ... we can feel a lot of people showering us with a lot of love.”
For the couple, the memory of Kathy is something they hold fast to. Every three or four times a week, they will spend evenings at St Teresa church, Kathy’s final resting place.
“It was the loving care she showed towards the both of us. Every time she saw us, it’s hugs - even after she went to university, every time she saw us, she (would) hug us,” Keith said.
His wife added: “When we went shopping, she would hold your hand, wrap herself around your arms.
“There was a period I fell ill, and was in and out of hospital. No matter what, she would bring her homework, no matter how tired she was, she would come and lie with me in bed, you know? That’s the part I feel most precious.”
Kathy’s death has hit her family friends hard. Hundreds came to say their final farewells at her funeral. As her mum recalled Kathy’s sensitive nature, a smile formed on her lips.
“I remember there was once, my husband said, ‘I wish we could own a bigger house’. She said, ‘Daddy, we don’t need a bigger house. We only need a home’.
“That was what Kathy was like.”
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...xi-driver-yap-kok-hua-crash-clementi-11813398
