Monday August 7, 2006
Rosaline’s brave fight ends
By LOONG MENG YEE
KUALA LUMPUR: For the past three months, tycoon Tan Sri Francis Yeoh dropped everything to be with his wife, Puan Sri Rosaline as she battled with cancer in a hospital in Singapore.
The five children joined their father in the vigil and they built wonderful memories to last a lifetime – laughter, sharing of meals and showering Rosaline with love as she showed signs of recovery.
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Rosaline: She and Endon were encouraging each other |
One night, as Francis urged her to keep fighting, he vowed never to remarry again because of his immense love for her.
“Like the amazing person that she was, she told me not to say such a thing, as I should think of myself and the children if she went,” Francis told reporters at their home here as Rosaline’s body rested in the main hall.
The YTL Corp Bhd managing director and his children were by Rosaline’s side when she died on Saturday.
Rosaline, who was born in Hong Kong and was a successful television personality before marrying Francis, was diagnosed with cancer seven years ago.
She fought the dreaded disease alongside Datin Seri Endon Mahmood. The two friends would text each other offering words of courage and urging each other not to give up.
“When Datin Seri Endon died, Rosaline was undergoing treatment in London. I did not tell her about Endon’s death until about two weeks later because I knew the news would devastate her,” said Francis.
In recollecting the first time he saw her, Francis said: “It was love at first sight for me. Rosaline was in Kuala Lumpur for a function and was amused I did not recognise the Hong Kong star that she was.
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STAYING STRONG: Yeoh (left) emphasising Rosaline’s perseverance by gesturing with his children beside him. They are (from left) Jacob, 21, Joseph, 20, Rebekah, 13, Ruth, 23 and Joshua, 17. |
His wife, he said, was his staunchest supporter and strongest critic. She always pushed him to do his best and never to accept compromise.
Francis credits his wife as an amazing woman who had also assisted him in designing the interior for some of YTL’s iconic projects, including the Pangkor Laut Resort, the Ritz-Carlton residences and the Feast Village at Starhill Gallery.
“The family misses her greatly. There has been a lot of tears but also comfort in knowing she had gone to a better place – heaven.
“We will go on with courage and determination, to never give up in honour of this wonderful woman who had shown us there was no other way to live but to run a good race to the finish,” said Francis.
A friend, Rosemarie Wee, said Rosaline was a bubbly person who was always ready to help.
“She was a generous person and a great patron of the arts. She also never craved for publicity. Rosaline had done so much for charity but never asked for the limelight,” Wee added.
Rosaline will be buried at the Nilai Memorial Park on Thursday, after funeral services at 10am at the Yeoh’s home in Bukit Tunku.
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