Close Families – Yeoh, Lim and Chew

Close family. (l-r) Ignatius Chew,Christine Yeoh Choo Hoon (3rd from left) and after her Datuk Lim Si Boon.

Yeoh-Lim-Chew in Hokkien sounds like the “Yeoh’s (like to) drink wine” And so it was a night of merry making and close relationship of the families at the recent Datuk Yeoh Kian Teik memorial.

There was so much of camaraderie amongst the cousins that night that I sought to ask Christine Yeoh what it was that gave them all such family unity.

“It’s been that way from our grand-parents time, four generations ago.  We were a strict family but among us cousins we grew up together and we remained very close.

 

Close relations through marriage 

My great grandfather was Yeoh Kuan Joo married Lim Siew Tong who was the sister of Lim Seok Tan, Datuk Lim Si Boon great grandfather.

That was well before the war and the families have been close since.

Christine explained that during her Grandmothers time whenever there was an event all the families came together.

 

Chew Boon Juan ( 2nd from left) and Yeoh Khuan Joo (7th from left) at the wedding of Boon Juan's 7th daughter

In the 1930’s Yeoh Kuan Joo’s son Yeoh Ghim Cheow was married to Chew Gaik Tiew the daughter of Chew Boon Juan while in the 40’s another Yeoh daughter Yeoh Suan Bee married Chew Choon Kok thus continuing the relationship of the families.

In recent times, Christine said her father the late Datuk Yeoh Kian Teik and the late Datuk K.K. Lim, Lim Si Boon father were good friends and drinking buddies for a long time.

Yeoh,Lim And Chew Meet At Dato' Yeoh Kian Teik’s Memorial Dinner

Yeoh's from Singapore posing with Datin Janet Yeoh, the widow of Dato Yeoh Kian Teik

The family of Dato’ Yeoh Kian Teik held their fathers memorial dinner recently. As in previous years it was a most joyous occasion.

Yeoh Lam Hock and  Yeoh Lam Keong are greeted by Christine Yeoh Choo Hoon

The dinner surpassed their expectations of the Singapore Yeoh’s especially for those who attended for the first time and witnessed the “Yeoh-Lim-Chew” culture of the large family which they fully enjoyed.

According to Christine Yeoh, the daughter of Datuk Yeoh Kian Teik, the family has been having the memorial dinner since the first year after his death.

‘Each year it was enjoyable and it always ended with singing and dancing. Also this year there was the young family members from Singapore and they made a difference.

We had more of a younger crowd and so we had more rock songs. In previous years we had more of the oldies, those songs from the sixties and seventies”.

Cousins selfie ....

All cousins

The hall was full of family members made of Yeoh, Lim, Chew and Oh and two tables were from the associations and the office.

It was also Christine’s brother Yeoh Lam Jit’s birthday, which was a few days away and they surprised him with a birthday cake which got the ball rolling.

Birthday boy Yeoh Lam Jit (with microphone)

First the Yeoh boy’s led by Lam Jit took to the microphone singing Robbie William’s “Better Man". 

Lam Jit leads the Yeoh boys in song

This was replied by the Yeoh Girls rendition of Teresa Teng’s “The moon represents my heart” and the young Singapore Yeoh’s  rendered Blue’s r &b number ‘All Rise”

The Yeoh girls with Datin Janet sing a Teresa Teng's classic ...

..the Yeoh's from Singapore rendering 'All Rise'

Christine Yeoh, as the tai kar cheh and organizer, then led the family to dance the Macarena around the floor.

Christine Yeoh leads the family dancing the Macarena

The young members of Singapore Yeoh’s were delighted to meet so many of their cousins and relatives and discover the Yeoh-Lim-Chew culture.   

  JAG

Yeoh’s From Singapore Visit Chew Museum To 'Know Their Roots'

Front row. Eddy Chong Hwee Keng, Yeoh Lam Hock, Yeoh Chee Yong, Datuk Lim Si Boon, Ignatius Chew Eng Lin, Pauline Chew, Yeoh Lam Keong and Yeoh Chee Yan. Back row. Nikolaus Von Pueckler, Renee Joshua Rajaraj, Yeoh Lai Lin, Nathan Chong Wen Loong and friend Wong Shi-En Ni

The Yeoh’s from Singapore were in town for their Uncle Yeoh Kian Teik’s memorial dinner.

Just like a year ago when they returned for cousin Christine Yeoh Choo Heng’s 70^th birthday they visited Ignatius’s museum. This year they returned with their grown up children.

 

Yeoh Lam Hock, Yeoh Chee Yong and son Nikolaus Von Pueckler, Yeoh Lam Keong and daughter Yeoh Lai Lin and Yeoh Chee Yan and Eddy Chong with their son Nathan Chong Wen Loong

“This is the first time our children visited Ipoh. We wanted to make this trip with them so they would know their family roots” said Yeoh Chee Yan.

The Yeoh’s from Singapore belong to the line of Yeoh Kian Hong the brother of Yeoh Kian Teik.

Yeoh Lam Hong came alone but his brother Yeoh Lam Keong brought his daughter Yeoh Lai Lin and her friend Renee Joshua Rajaraj.

His sisters Yeoh Chee Yong came with her son Nikolaus Von Pueckler and Yeoh Chee Yan was accompanied by husband Eddy Chong Hwee Keng and son Nathan Chong Wen Loong and friend Wong Shi-En.

 

Ignatius giving the family the grand tour 

Ignatius showed the family around the museum and explained to them the family of the Yeoh, Lim and Chew. Later Datuk Lim Si Boon came and explained his part of the family connection.

Overall the Yeoh’s were thrilled to see the family connections so well documented.

According to Chee Yen it gave the family a very special sense of connection to our father’s family.

 

Discovering their roots 

"This is your grandfather and his brothers ....

Seated (l- r) brothers Yeoh Kian Seng, Kian Teik, Kian Hong and Kean Hian

“Yeoh Kian Hong was a wonderful father to us. Ipoh as well as his family here were always close to his heart. The visit was a way of remembering him”.

She added that every visit to the museum is fascinating and was grateful to Ignatius for mapping the family tree.

After the visit to the museum the family had their leisurely lunch at Ban Hoe Seng's  office. 

JAG