Theresa Chee, grand old dame of Ipoh, turns 100

Free Malaysia Today

24-04-2025

Theresa Chee was a devoted teacher who often went out of her way to give her students a quality education. (Tan Boon Tin pic)
PETALING JAYA : Theresa Chee is certainly a prominent name in the local Baha'i community. As the first Baha'i in northern Peninsular Malaysia, she is affectionately known as 'The Northern Star' for her role in bringing many to the faith.
Others probably know Theresa as a devoted teacher. Throughout her long and colourful career, Theresa taught in Malay, Chinese and Christian schools, doing her best to provide her students with a quality education.
Today marks a time of celebration for this grand old lady of Ipoh, as she turns 100 years old!
Theresa's family, which includes her three children Dennis, Ben and Doreen, plus 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, have nothing but best wishes for her.
'We always knew she would be blessed with a long life, but we never really expected her to reach 100 in relatively good health,' her daughter, Doreen Chee, told FMT Lifestyle.
Theresa and her children Benedict (left), Dennis and Doreen. (Tan Boon Tin pic)
'We hope that the rest of her life will continue to be an inspiration to all who knew her and that she will always be happy and healthy.
'When her time comes, we hope she will take her leave of this physical world, and enter the eternal realm with joy and peace.'
While Theresa is still in generally good health, age has slowed her down: her speech and response abilities have been affected, making her unable to be interviewed.
Her children, however, are more than happy to share their thoughts of their mother, describing her as a crucial part of the family: the 'sun' around which everything and everyone revolves.
'We've had a small birthday celebration for her. We plan to have a bigger celebration with all the family later, maybe some time in July. Many of her grandchildren are in Australia and it will be easier for them to come back around that time, closer to the holidays,' her son Ben said.
Theresa with her family during her 100th birthday celebration. (Tan Boon Tin pic)
Ben describes Theresa as a kind and friendly person who is loved by everyone, never holds grudges, and always goes out of her way to help others. She is an avid reader, a spirited dancer, and a wonderful cook, mostly known for her salted fish acar.
The eldest daughter of six children, Theresa was born in Gajah Berang, Melaka on April 25, 1925. Her father, Yan Kee Leong, was a noted artist and caricaturist whose works were published in The Straits Echo and The Sunday Times, while her mother, Chi Lye Eng, was a housewife.
Longevity seems to run in Theresa's family: her sisters Lily Ng and Rose Ong, who now live in Seremban and Singapore, just turned 98 and 96, respectively.
After her schooling, Theresa worked as a typist during the Japanese Occupation.
Once at a social dance in 1945, her brother introduced her to one of his college classmates, Chee Ah Kin, a technical assistant with the public works department. This man later became Theresa's husband.
A photo of Theresa and her husband Chee Ah Kin from 1952. (Tan Boon Tin pic)
Her father became the first person in Malaysia to accept the Baha'i faith in 1953, and Theresa followed suit in 1960. The faith's principles about unity of mankind played – and continues to play – an important part in her life.
Theresa later became a teacher at SRK St Michael's and SMJK Keat Hwa in Alor Setar, as well as SMJK Yuk Choy Ipoh.
According to Ben, Theresa is known for going out of her way to ensure her students achieved academic success. Many of her former students still visit her to this day.
'I think there is much we can learn from her life, such as positivity, the importance of keeping yourself healthy, and the importance of living a life of service,' her son Dennis concluded.
'I hope the lessons of her life continue to be passed down even to our future generations.'