Sabah quake: Body of Peony Wee arrives at Mountbatten home

SINGAPORE - The body of 12-year-old Peony Wee Ying Ping arrived at Jalan Tiga in Mountbatten just past 7.30pm on Sunday.

The Tanjong Katong Primary School pupil was one of eight who died on a school trip when a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit Mount Kinabalu on Friday.

Her mother, Ms Luo Jin, 43, was wailing loudly as the coffin was rolled out from a white van to a multi-purpose pavilion, where the five-day wake is being held.

Peony's older brother, 14-year-old Chester, put his arms around his mother, comforting her. More than 20 friends and relatives were also present as a Buddhist monk led a sombre 15-minute prayer.

Family members and friends described Peony as a lively and cheerful girl who often helped out at her mother's traditional Chinese medicine clinic.

Late on Sunday night, a distraught Ms Luo was seen sitting on the ground crying, with friends and relatives comforting her.

At about 11pm, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister of State for Education Sim Ann and Member of Parliament for Mountbatten Lim Biow Chuan dropped by the wake for about an hour and offered their condolences to the Wee family.

Peony's father, machine operator Alson Wee, 51, said his daughter was a lovely, active girl who played netball and enjoyed wanton noodles. Peony, who was named after China's national flower, also leaves behind a one-year-old sister, Felicia.

"She was very loving, very helpful," said Mr Wee. "I will miss hearing her cheerful voice around the house."

yeosamjo@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on June 8, 2015.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.