Family of late S’pore primary school teacher of 50 years hope ex-students can attend wake

For close to 50 years, this Singapore teacher dedicated her life to education.

“Miss Peh”, as she was fondly known, taught at Yang Zheng Primary School and Greenridge Primary School after graduating from the Teachers’ Training Centre in 1972.

She was a Science teacher and also a dedicated Cub Scout club teacher-in-charge.

Up until her retirement in 2021, she had never taken a single day of leave or medical leave, her grand-niece, Yin, told Mothership.

Peh passed away peacefully at the age of 75 following a bout of illness.

Her family is now reaching out to former students and colleagues who may wish to pay their respects at her wake, which will be held until Jan. 30.

Impact on students

Yin said she began searching for more people who may have been taught by or worked with Peh after a former student came to the wake.

In the week before she passed, Peh was no longer able to speak in proper sentences, Yin shared.

“I knew how much she can’t bear to leave, I told her, instead of being sad, think about the good you’ve done, how many lives you may have impacted, some even without you knowing,” she said.

On the first day of the wake, a former student who had been one of her Scout boys in the 1980s came to pay his respects.

Although he had not kept in touch with her, he decided to attend the wake after hearing the news through a Scout group, as Peh had “made an impact” on his life, he told Yin.

“I was so touched when I heard that because it was exactly what I told her before she passed. Hence, I started the TikTok hoping to find more of these ex-students, hoping that she can find peace and comfort from this,” Yin said.

Yin has since posted several TikTok videos sharing Peh’s dedication to her students over the years and appealing to former students who may wish to pay their respects.

Dedicated teacher

Peh devoted her weekdays to school and her weekends to Scout activities.

“Everyone who knew her would know how dedicated she was towards Scout. She was very proud of her Scout achievements; it was something she felt deeply for and preached, to spread good values and life skills to the students out of the scope of school work,” Yin said.

She recalls her grand-aunt often saying, “Once a Scout, Always a Scout”.

Peh is remembered by colleagues as a teacher who would return to school on weekends “without a single complaint nor grumble”.

As a Science teacher, Peh was described as someone who extended the "learning beyond the classroom” by bringing students outdoors to observe and study different types of flowers in their natural environment.

She would also willingly stay back to provide additional guidance and clarify science concepts, ensuring that no student was left behind.

Although she had the means to retire at 65, Peh continued teaching past the age of 70, only retiring in 2021 after realising that her eyesight was deteriorating, Yin shared.

In her final years of teaching, Peh stayed with Yin in the east but travelled daily before sunrise to Greenridge Primary School in Bukit Panjang.

“Although it was already very taxing on her health, she never said a word of grumble,” Yin said.

Loving grand-aunt

As a grand-aunt, Peh was also a loving, motherly figure to Yin, her sister and her mother.

“She was the best grandaunt anyone could have. All of us loved her so much. She is a very simple lady, thrifty, hardworking, cares deeply for others, doesn’t spend on herself but she is so extremely generous with everyone else,” Yin said.

When Yin was younger, she lived in the Kallang area with her great-grandmother, and Peh would travel daily from Bukit Panjang to have dinner with them.

“For the past 30 plus years I have known her, she gave and gave without expecting anything from us. Her entire life was basically dedicated to work and her family, loved ones.”

Stayed positive despite health condition

Shortly after she stopped working, Peh experienced several health scares.

“That’s when we found out she had very advanced diabetes, then gallbladder cancer, breast cancer, which led to a bad fall that she had to go through a hip replacement surgery. After cancer was cleared, we finally found her kidneys were already failing,” Yin said.

Despite this, Peh initially remained very positive, Yin said, adding that she never uttered a word of complaint even as she underwent multiple surgeries and chemotherapy.

She continued to express concern for others, frequently reminding Yin to eat breakfast and drink plenty of water.

“She was hopeful to recover to enjoy her retirement, but it was a pity that after a while she realised she could no longer get better and that her conditions would only deteriorate. She was sad but never showed it,” Yin said.

Peh eventually told her family that she would “accept her fate”.

“She did not finally really enjoy her golden years but we did still spend all the time we can with her, and take comfort that ”she has left behind a legacy, being well loved and respected by everyone who knew her” and that she no longer has to suffer now.”

Wake details

Peh’s wake is currently ongoing until Jan. 30, with cremation scheduled for Jan. 31.

The wake is being held at 3A Pine Close, 393003.

“Our families welcome any ex-students or colleagues to come pay their final respects during this time. My grand-aunt would be extremely happy,” Yin said.

Top photos courtesy of Yin