Mdm Mary Yee, 76, remembers a carefree childhood near Tanglin Halt, where her father worked as a cobbler. She often tagged along with him, entertaining herself with the other children nearby and playing games under the shade of the five-foot way.
Later, her family moved to the Bukit Ho Swee flats. “They were six storeys high, but there were no lifts,” she recalled. “My father was a bit older, so he would sometimes be out of breath by the time we reached the top. The standard of living in Singapore then was different.”
Life wasn’t always easy, but she also cherishes simple joys — like the freshly made pau sold at Tiong Bahru Market. “The meat tasted clean and flavourful,” she said. Even today, though she lives in Jurong East, she still makes the trip back for a taste.
Unlike many families of that era, Mdm Mary’s parents treated their sons and daughters equally, and she is grateful their openness allowed her to go to school and learn to read and write. As she grew older, she began working in hotels, starting with Hotel Malaysia in Newton before moving on to Imperial and Sheraton. She remembers the hotel industry fondly — the orderliness, the regular staff meals, and the colleagues she learned from. “Back then, roles were more evenly divided,” she noted. “Now, service staff have to do many different jobs.” It was also in the hotels that she picked up some English, and even today she can still rattle off the names of different drinks and how they’re prepared.
Three years ago, after suffering a fracture, Mdm Mary was referred from Ng Teng Fong Hospital to St Luke’s ElderCare. She had requested to join a senior care centre so she could stay active and keep her mind sharp. “I feel like both my mind and hands are active here,” she shared, reflecting on the many activities that now fill her days.
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