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    Singapore's oldest person Teresa Hsu dies

    Singapore's famed 'Mother Teresa', social worker Teresa Hsu has died at age 113.

    The supercentenarian was Singapore's oldest person.

    According to an announcement on the Heart to Heart website, Hsu's welfare service, Hsu died peacefully at her home on 7 December. She was cremated on the same day,"

    Hsu wanted to "depart quietly and peacefully" and left instructions not to make any announcement of her death in the news media, or perform any ceremonies that would "cause disturbance and inconvenience to others", said the notice.

    The notice was signed by her co-worker Sharana Rao.

    "She has further instructed that no claim be made of her ash by whosoever," it added.

    Hsu, a trained nurse, devoted her entire life to helping the less fortunate.

    Born in a tiny village in the Guangdong province of China, Hsu traveled to various countries, such as Hong Kong and Paraguay, to help others, before settling down in Singapore.

    Here, she served first as an unsalaried matron at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital for about three years before opening an old folks home, called the "Home for the Aged Sick".

    After retirement, she turned her attention to her welfare service, Heart to Heart, where she reached out to needy elderly folks and families.

    Yahoo! Singapore last featured Hsu in our Inspiring People column for her lifelong work with the less fortunate. Read more about her life story here.

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    48 comments

    • Champlain  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  4 months ago
      Her life-long sacrifice was not compensated by the top-1,000 earners' market rate of salary, she did it as a "calling", she did not yell and cry loud for the "loss of monetary remuneration"
      • Jazz 4 months ago
        A true meaning of the word "sacrifice". Never a need to be paid a competitive salary so that there will be volunteers in the future.
    • Ivan Pang  •  Hanoi, Vietnam  •  5 months ago
      I remember she shake my hands while we are helping out in cleaning, grass cutting and painting works at the Home for the aged sick old folks home back in 1992. I remember your 2 warmed hands... RIP madam.
    • Aaron  •  5 months ago
      I am deeply touched by her devotion to humanity, should Ms Teresa Hsu be honoured "Founding mother of Singapore Humanitarian", I guess no one else yet in Singapore would be as deserving as Ms Teresa Hsu to be named "Founding Father of Singapore", she simply stood so TALL to all Singaporeans.
      • PepperPace 5 months ago
        She is truly the Mother Teresa of Singapore!
      • Ritchie Gan 4 months ago
        Teresa Hsu is a nobody. Not important whether the oldest or youngest person in Singapore pass away, as long as MM Lee lives to a ripe old age to continue imparting his wisdom to us.
      • Lesley 4 months ago
        Hi Lucid, you mean a nobody is not important, than you are wrong. It is the nobody that make history, in every where it is the nobody that have hearts and care for human
    • Aftermath  •  5 months ago
      You have led a meaningful life, RIP.
    • Bilbo_cheshire  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  4 months ago
      She should be recognised and honoured in this year National day awards, instead of giving recognitions to PAP stooges, who care more for bring more money to PAP then to care for fellow under-privileged humans. Too many good and kind souls, like the late Ms Eileen Boswell, who help setup social services similar to Teresa are not recognised, although they prefer to stay on, when the British pull out.
    • Hmm  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  4 months ago
      I had just finished reading the "Memoirs Of A Centenarian Teresa Hsu" LOVE & SHARE. Unfortunately she passed away just about 2 weeks before the book was released. I get to know her better after reading this newly published memoirs of her. She is indeed a Great Soul.
    • Angry Bird  •  5 months ago
      Dear Mother Teresa.

      I will always remember the message of sharing which you had been sharing with us all your life.

      Thank you for leaving such a profound wisdom of sharing to the living to learn and treasure.

      Best wishes to the greater quest in the world which you are going. Fair well.
    • premier  •  4 months ago
      What a remarkable human being she was, devoted her life to serving others. A sterling example for all to follow. RIP Ms Teresa Hsu, you deserve eternal rest......and our eternal gratitude and affection.
    • Seb6  •  5 months ago
      許哲居士, 原是一名天主教的老修女, 於2002年1月29日禮請淨空法師為證明師, 104歲時皈依三寶, 守持五戒. 並應新加坡佛教居士林李木源林長之邀,為大家講述她的生活與修學理念.

      Mdm Hsu Chih, was originally an old Catholic nun, on January 29, 2002 respecfully request Master Jing Kong to accept her as his disciple. At age 104 years old, she was converted to Triple Gem (Buddha, Dharma,Sangha) and observe the Five Precepts. And the Singapore Buddhist Lodge's long-Lin Li Mu-source invitation to you about her life and further studies philosophy.

      Mdm Hsu Chih began each day at 4am. She credited her youth to a simple lifestyle. She has been a vegetarian all her life. She takes only one meal a day - mainly raw vegetables and fruits, which she blends and drinks as a juice. She believes cooking spoils the nutrition. Drinking this juice has been her daily habit since 1947. In this , she was decades ahead of medical opinion. Recent scientific research has discovered such a diet is rich antioxidants,which are life-strengthening substances that prevent diseases and slow down ageing.
    • Vinz  •  5 months ago
      Now that's what I call Live Life to the Fullest!
      Instead of throwing one's life away on meaningless extreme sports, fast vehicles, drugs etc~
      • Luke 3 months ago
        I don't get how this comment could be posted 1 month and 20 days ago.
    • Lim  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  4 months ago
      My salute to her. She is one of the "Awesome Singaporean"
      Her sacrifice cannot measured. I read an article saying ... Whenever she has a bowl of rice, she will gave half away.
      Grace Fool & partners ...Please learn from her!!!
    • SawadiOne  •  Bangkok, Thailand  •  4 months ago
      RIP you will be remembered as comes with nothing, goes with nothing but plenty of respect.
    • lai  •  5 months ago
      She is woman of kind heart & compassion lady to our society.
      God will guide her soul
    • True Sporean  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  4 months ago
      Ms Teresa Hsu, you deserve our highest respect for your devotion to helping the less fortunate. RIP
    • ssd  •  4 months ago
      Whenever I see her in TV, she always smile. That's her power...........The power of smile.
      Smile Singapore!
    • James  •  Melbourne, Australia  •  4 months ago
      Sounds like Singapore has lost a true angel.
    • Key  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  4 months ago
      Ms Teresa Hsu really gain the RESPECT from us True Singaporeans...!!! RIP...!!! You will always be remembered....!!! When these words is now publshed ".... she served first as an unsalaried matron at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital...", we feeled shameful over why our Government is claiming that only by Paying World Top High Salary then we can get Good People to join the Cabinet...!!! A Huge Contary to the devoted contribution delivered by Teresa Hsu for the past decades...!!! Can our Ministers OR will our Ministers be able to follow the FOOT STEP of Teresa Hsu...??? At least the Old Guards working together with LKY are prepared to scarifice themselves with LOW PAY TO SERVE THE NATION...!!!!
    • 小 Lee 飛刀  •  4 months ago
      Yahoo insert this piece of news about one and a half month ago, but that time the comment function was down. Thanks to Yahoo giving us the chance again to mourn for the loss of a heroine. She had left us, but the spirit of spreading love staying forever.
    • YahooUser  •  5 months ago
      113 yet looked like 80 year old. wonder how she kept her youthful looks. hai no chance to ask
      • Ah Chew 4 months ago
        She was a Yoga Practitioner
      • Jackal 3 months ago
        She is a vegetarian.
    • Since Here Lee  •  4 months ago
      Teresa took NO SALARY.

      Snr CS Officers were UNDER-REMUNERATED.

      Our Ministers / PM / President are suffering, double-blow with the
      Pay-Cut compounding the under-remuneration.

      Adding salt to the wound is the No-Dignity Salary.

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