Elaine Cheong Siew Boon, the wife of former manpower minister Lim Swee Say, has passed away.

Her obituary was put up in The Straits Times on July 8, 2021.

The obituary was shared by Tommy Koh, Singapore's Ambassador-at-Large.

Koh wrote in his short tribute to Cheong, a former president of Friends of the Museum, saying that he mourns her passing on July 6:

Elaine was an elegant and cultured lady, passionate about art, culture and heritage. She and her colleagues at FOM, provided volunteer guides at all our museums. I send her husband, Lim Swee Say and his family my heartfelt condolences. I am sure that my sentiments are shared by the members of the NHB [National Heritage Board] family.

She leaves behind her husband and two children.

Friend of the arts

It was previously reported that Cheong gave up her career as a software engineer and computer sales manager in 1991 to take care of her family.

Cheong attended St Anthony's Convent and National Junior College before studying computer science at the University of Coventry in England.

She returned to Singapore to work for the computer firm, ICL.

She married Lim in 1981 after they were introduced by a friend.

Cheong quit her job and accompanied Lim, a former managing director of the Economic Development Board, to New York when he was posted to its overseas office in 1991.

They brought their two children along.

It was while overseas she developed her passion in heritage and the arts.

Cheong then trained to be a docent with the FOM.

She started out as a volunteer docent when she was a full-time mother of two children aged seven and 10 then.

A docent acts as a guide, typically on a voluntary basis, in a museum or art gallery.

She guided at most of the NHB Museums and also at the National Gallery of Singapore.

She served three terms as president of FOM.

Politician husband

Lim, 66, left politics completely in 2020.

He did not contest in the general election that year.

He stepped down as manpower minister in 2018.

He entered politics in 1997.

He previously said prior to his exit from the political arena that he would like to spend more time with his family after retirement.

During a tribute to Lim, Josephine Teo, who took over the manpower ministry portfolio, singled out Cheong for her pivotal role in Lim's life.

Lim spoke about how he met Cheong

In 2014, Lim publicly spoke about how he met his wife.

He described their encounter as love at first sight.

Years later, Lim had to seek her blessing to join politics.

She was described as having agreed reluctantly, as she was worried she would see even less of Lim given his already hectic professional life.

Top photo via Toggle & Asian Art Histories