April 18, 03:43 PM 
514 Chai Chee Lane 03-16, Singapore 469029 Ms Ho Ching, Temasek Holdings' chief executive and wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has taken a three-month break.
On April 15, Ms Ho, 62, told her friends and fans on Facebook that she's well and she wanted to "spend some time on a couple of long standing things which she had wanted to do".
Source: Ho Ching Facebook
She added that she would catch up on some sleep and “do a lot more walking.”
Ms Ho has been Executive Director at Temasek since May 2002 and CEO since January 2004.
Temasek Holdings had assets under management of S$223 billion when it last reported figures in March 2014, ranking it the 11th largest government-backed fund globally, according to the Sovereign Wealth Institute.
No reason was given for the leave, but a Temasek spokesman told Reuters that it was "not related to any retirement plans".
An unnamed source in The Straits Times article ("Temasek CEO goes on three months' leave", April 16) said:
It's been quite gloomy these few days for the whole family". "It's possible she may travel with family overseas at a later date".
Following the passing of Lee Kuan Yew, it was clear from public images that Ms Ho was a source of strength for her family and friends during the period of National Mourning (Mar 23 - Mar 29).
Source: Remembering Lee Kuan Yew Facebook
The week-long mourning of Ms Ho's father-in-law revealed a rare side of Ms Ho that was different from the no-nonsense persona displayed during Temasek Holdings' press conferences.
Below are GIFs and photos that show why Ms Ho may be needed more in the Lee family household than Temasek Holdings.
1. Ms Ho comforted the guests at the private family wake.
Ms Ho with nurses from the Singapore General Hospital.
Source: Screenshot from The Straits Times e-book. Photo by Neo Xiaobin
Ms Ho held the hand of the teary-eyed Education Minister Heng Swee Keat. Heng was then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's Principal Private Secretary between 1997 and 2000.
Source: Screenshot from The Straits Times e-book. Photo by Neo Xiaobin
Heng, who was praised by Lee as his best Principal Private Secretary, shared his experiences working with Lee in “The Big Ideas of Mr Lee Kuan Yew” conference two years ago.
2. She lent a helping hand to a grieving foreign dignitary.
Henry Kissinger, US' secretary of state from 1973 to 1977, "was an old and close friend of my father’s", according to PM Lee.
Henry Kissinger wiped away his tears as he paid his last respects to Lee Kuan Yew.
Kissinger first met Lee in 1967, when he was taking a sabbatical in Harvard, and Kissinger was still a professor. PM Lee said that Kissinger "has written a "moving eulogy to my father" in the Washington Post.
After Kissinger paid his respects to Lee, Ms Ho held Kissinger's hand gently as she accompanied him away.
3. She took care of her children and affirmed them.
Ms Ho tended to her children discreetly before the start of the eulogies at the National University of Singapore.
She offered a tissue paper to her son Li Hongyi, when he broke down during the cremation service of the late Lee Kuan Yew.
She appeared to have whispered "it's okay" to Li before he continued with his eulogy of his grandfather.
4. Ms Ho was a source of comfort to her husband PM Lee
Just like the late Kwa Geok Choo to the grieving Lee Kuan Yew.
Related articles:
Dr Lee Wei Ling’s eulogy was something Singaporeans would’ve appreciated to hear
PM Lee finally calls Lee Kuan Yew “Papa” & delivers a private eulogy as a son
Top photo from Straits Times photo in TODAY newspaper.
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