Enkahnz: Elderly living alone find peace in Tommy’s promise to fulfil their last ritesThe red, bulging bundle makes a soft splash, unfurling as it hits the surface of the rolling sea.
“Rest in peace, uncle,” whispers a volunteer.
She watches; the weight of the cremated ashes and bones pulls the cotton-fabric coffin into the murky depths of its watery grave. A coterie of flowers emerges from the sinking package, leaving a colourful trail in its wake. There are no tears, but it is a briny farewell, nonetheless.
On this balmy Tuesday, six strangers who died alone are being buried in the waters off the eastern coast of Singapore. Funeral director Tommy Yu conducts the sombre ceremony on a rented bum boat.
For nearly four decades, Tommy has been performing last rites for people without next-of-kin, regardless of their religion. His selfless service to the poor does not stop there. He also cremates and buries those estranged from family, who leave the world neglected and forgotten.(Enkahnz)
Along with volunteers, Tommy does this work under the banner of Love & Unity Volunteers Establishment (LUVE), which he founded in 1986. Each year, Tommy gives free funeral services to as many as 30 elderly across Singapore, paid for out-of-pocket or from donations to LUVE.
The sobering process starts with a call from a social worker to Tommy. He picks up the deceased, cleans and dresses them in a new outfit, before delivering them to the crematorium. There, he sees off the dead, and later collects and prepares the remains, before taking them to their final resting place.
“When a person lives until 70 or 80 years old, when he or she passes on, would they have no friends? Not even family?” asks Tommy. “This kind of poverty is such that even their friends and family don’t wish to acknowledge them.”read more(Enkahnz)
“Rest in peace, uncle,” whispers a volunteer.
She watches; the weight of the cremated ashes and bones pulls the cotton-fabric coffin into the murky depths of its watery grave. A coterie of flowers emerges from the sinking package, leaving a colourful trail in its wake. There are no tears, but it is a briny farewell, nonetheless.
On this balmy Tuesday, six strangers who died alone are being buried in the waters off the eastern coast of Singapore. Funeral director Tommy Yu conducts the sombre ceremony on a rented bum boat.
For nearly four decades, Tommy has been performing last rites for people without next-of-kin, regardless of their religion. His selfless service to the poor does not stop there. He also cremates and buries those estranged from family, who leave the world neglected and forgotten.(Enkahnz)
Along with volunteers, Tommy does this work under the banner of Love & Unity Volunteers Establishment (LUVE), which he founded in 1986. Each year, Tommy gives free funeral services to as many as 30 elderly across Singapore, paid for out-of-pocket or from donations to LUVE.
The sobering process starts with a call from a social worker to Tommy. He picks up the deceased, cleans and dresses them in a new outfit, before delivering them to the crematorium. There, he sees off the dead, and later collects and prepares the remains, before taking them to their final resting place.
“When a person lives until 70 or 80 years old, when he or she passes on, would they have no friends? Not even family?” asks Tommy. “This kind of poverty is such that even their friends and family don’t wish to acknowledge them.”read more(Enkahnz)
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