Outpouring of grief at final farewell to Puan Sri Rosaline

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.

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 the USA – mark the significance of this remarkable woman.

The procession at Bukit Tunku.

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.