Reality sets in

Shyan Ray and Matt were so kaypoh. At the send off of the coffin/hearse, they kept asking why the adults were crying. I guess they are young and cannot understand what was happening.

The whole event was like a bad dream. In a flash, the funeral was over and now the reality sets in.

Margaret and I went to HDB and CPF to lodge mum's death certificate with them. HDB was quite straight-forward. They would send a staff down to the house for dad to sign the Warrant to Act papers. The title deed has to be changed to dad's name as sole owner, and it has to be lodged with the Land Authority. For that, I had to pay $85 for stamp duty fees!

As for CPF, they said they will inform the Public Trustee. I am quite sure that mum had made a nomination some years ago. CPF wouldn't reveal who they are. We'll just have to wait. The nominees, if there are any, will receive a letter from CPF in 6 to 8 weeks' time for them to claim their share of the money.

Andy and Maureen dealt with the Banks. There was no problem with the joint savings account. However, there was a problem with the DBS FD account. As mum was the only account holder the bank wouldn't allow us to close it and transferred the monies to dad.

Subsequently, I also lodged mum's death certificate with Power Supply and Singtel. I cancelled mum's mobile phone as well.

Still outstanding is the change of employer for the domestic maid.

In the last 3 days, Maureen, Margaret and I cleaned up the house and trashed a lot of unwanted stuff. We packed mum's old clothes and donated them to SunLove, the elderly citizens centre at Block 3.

Something good has come out of this event. The time spent together with my siblings has made all of us closer. Now we all have one goal in mind, and that is to care for dad. That was mum's last wish!