Tan Hock Ann

Tan Hock Ann

陳福安

海澄

豐江

顯考福安陳公墓

民國卅一年

壬午三月廿一

In Loving Memory of

Tan Hock Ann 

Who died on 6th April 1942

Age 51 

He whom the Gods love die young 

Sons

Dr Essel Tan Sin Lian 

Tan Sun Choon 

Tan Sun Meng

Tan Sun Soo

Tan Sin Seng 

Tan Sin Whatt 

Tan Sin Ho 

Tan Sin Cheng 

Daughters 

Tan Geok Eng 

Tan Guek Neo 

Tan Guek Choo 




In Memort of 

Mrs Tan Kim Leong 

(Mdm Ong Geng Neo)

Died on 25.11.1944

Age 81 years 

DEATH

Syonan Shimbun, 25 November 1944, Page 2

Mother of Tan Hock Ann 




Seow Lin Neo 

Died 7 -2- 1963

Age 72 years 

Wife of Tan Hock Ann

(Brother - Seow Chin Guan) 

Dr Essel Tan Sin Lian

died 8 - 2 - 1963

Age 47 years 

ENGAGEMENTS

The Singapore Free Press, 21 September 1953, Page 16

Chee Yew Chew son of Dr Chee Set Chew married Tan Guek Neo, daughter of Tan Hock Ann and Seow Lin Neo 

Source : 南洋名人傳

陳福安先生 • 閩漳州石碼人 • 行年四十九 • 父金隆翁

• 母氏王太夫人 • 無兄弟 • 僅一姊而早世 • 先生之生也 •在星洲 • 才數歲 • 父便棄養 • 賴母氏撫養 • 以至成立 • 稍長 • 讀英文 • 凡九年 • 至七號位 • 年十八 • 任依亞沙直士傭 • 初僅能稱貨打低仔 • 品以其能 • 即升任經理 • 自始至今 • 凡三十一年 • 歷職無乏 • 十庫主嘉其忠盡 • 賞百金以為紀念 • 優待金亦於近年獲領 • 西商比較華商之待店員也 • 為優在此 • 即有之 • 亦少數耳 • 商業之不興 • 非無因也• 先生剛直自逵 • 鮮氣媒惟 • 以俠義為懷 • 抗日以來 • 捐贈於各種籌賑會近千元 •

平日捐於各社團慈善等 • 亦稱是 • 任華人公會董事頗久 •

該會素窮於經費 • 先生為置一球桿 • 收稅以充之 • 既而凡玩球 • 亦必隨衆納稅 • 人或以為論功可免者 • 先生則非之• 謂物既獻公則公矣 • 不納稅 • 則私焉 • 此風不可長也 •

先生常於星期六 • 星期日 • 遊山玩水釣魚等為消遣 • 謂如此 • 方有生人樂趣 • 但深戒掉邪遊耳 • 配蕭娘女士 • 生四子二女 • 子新年 • 新秋 • 新發 • 新和 • 女玉英 • 月英 •

Tan Hock Ann

Mr. Tan Hock Ann , native of Shima, Zhangzhou, Fujian. Age 49. Father Tan Kim Leong

Mother Mdm Ong. No brothers, only one older sister who died early. Mr. Tan was born in Singapore. At just a few years old, his father died and his mother has to raise him until he became established. When he was a bit older, he studied English for 9 years, reaching 7th grade. At 18, he worked at the East Asiatic Co warehouse.

Initially he could only label goods and pack boxes. Recognizing his ability, he was soon promoted to manager. From beginning to now, it has been 31 years of continuous employment. The warehouse owner praised his loyalty and rewarded him with 100 gold coins as a commemoration. He also received preferential bonuses in recent years.

Western merchants treat their employees better than Chinese merchants. This is an advantage, though rare. 

Mr. Tan is upright and straightforward, with little pretense.

He is known for his sense of justice and chivalry. Since the resistance against Japan began, he has donated nearly a thousand dollars to various fundraising efforts.

He regularly donates to various social and charitable organizations. He has long served as a director of the Chinese Association.

The association has always been short on funds. Mr. Tan decided to collect taxes to supplement it for those playing  billards there. Since then, everyone playing billiards

must pay tax. Some argued that those who contributed should be exempt, but Mr. Tan disagreed, saying that once something is donated to the public, it becomes public. Not paying tax would make it private. 

Mr. Tan often goes hiking, enjoys nature and fishing on Saturdays and Sundays for leisure. He says this gives him joy in life, but he strictly avoids improper entertainments. His wife is Mdm Seow Lin Neo. They have four sons Sin Lian, Sin Chew, Sin Watt, Sin Ho and two daughters Geok Eng and Guek Eng

Eldest son - Dr Essel Tan Kin Lian

Together— to the grave-a doctor and his mother

The Straits Times, 9 February 1963, Page 9

SINGAPORE, Fri. - In a house by the sea in Pasir Panjang, two coffins lay side by side today.

In one was Madam Seow Lin Neo, 72, and in the other her son, Dr. Essel Tan Sin Lian, 47.

Grief-stricken Dr. Tan, a bachelor, died early today eight hours after his mother.

Dr. Tan, deputy director and district surgeon of the St. John Ambulance Association, had tried desperately to revive his mother when she collapsed after dinner.

Members of the family said today: "He took it as a personal failure."

Later that night, while discussing funeral arrangements for his mother with members of the family, the doctor broke down and was in a state of collapse. 

The family said that he kept repeating: "It's no use my being a medical man if I cannot revive my own mother."

To hospital

He was taken to the General Hospital, where he died at 3.25 a.m. today. 

The funeral will take place at noon on Sunday. They will be buried beside Dr. Tan's father, Mr. Tan Hock Ann, who died in 1942, in the family plot in Bukit Brown cemetery.

As a mark of respect, a Chap Goh Meh dance organised by an association for tomorrow night, has been cancelled.

Dr Tan took it as a personal failure 

Dr Tan besides being the director of ST John Ambulance Association was also a great supporter of Peranakan plays . One of the plays included Ayer Mata Ibu - A mother’s tears performs by leading all male casts at that time .

Play in Malay by Peranakans

The Singapore Free Press, 16 July 1960, Page 5

Willam Tan (Left) and Philip Tan

Mr Quek Eng Chong

Mr Ong Chwee Kim