Tan Ya Ching

From Paul Au Yong, Brother-in-Law:

"I met Ya Ching when I visited her elder sister (my present wife) in Sept 1976. My first impression was that she was very energetic and intelligent.

According to her sister, Ya Ching did well in schools (she studied in the best junior college) as well as in the University of Singapore where she graduated with an honours degree in electronics engineering on 1978. Ya Ching was always very good in making things with her hands from a young age.

She was a kind person who always shared her resources with people. I remembered that she wanted me to use her Honda Civic car in 1980 for one week during my in camp training. I was so grateful to her, as she needed to take bus to office during that period.

Ya Ching was always a caring daughter. I remember that she went all over Germany to look for a special camera and presented it to her father in Singapore on Feb 1991. Her father was critical ill at that time.

My precious moment with Ya Ching was when I visited her in Munich in Oct 2004. She came to receive me at the airport. She always prepared meals for me during my stay. Ya Ching, Colin and I went cycling together and also attended the Oktoberfest beer festival. We had a fine time together. She told me that she wanted me to witness her happy and fulfilling life in Munich and to let her mother, sister and brother in Singapore. She wanted them not to worry about her.

Ya Ching was a dear and loving sister, sister-in law and auntie to our family members. We had a fine time together while she was in Singapore in May 2011.

We are very sad and miss her deeply. No word can express our feeling now. However, Ya Ching would want us to be happy. She teaches us about living and dying. In death she lives in us.

Our best tribute to her is to think positively, be caring, share our love and live our life fully. "