PUBLISHED ONBYYeo Shu HuiFann Wong's siblings have recalled fond memories of their late father after a netizen posted a photo of his business card on Facebook group Heritage SG Memories.
In the post on Nov 6, netizen Philip Lim wrote: "Today, while spring-cleaning my name card albums, I came across this old name card. I used to work at Balestier Hill Shopping Centre in 1990 and would pass by Wing Onn Tailor shop many times during lunch time.
"In late 1990, I ordered a new pair of trousers from Mr Fann for the coming New Year. He was very friendly and attentive, and his workmanship was very good. I was really happy with the finished trousers.
"About a year later, I found out that Mr Fann is the father of a local celebrity. Do you know who this celebrity is? I understand he passed away on July 5, 2021. Thank you, Mr Fann and RIP."
Fann, 55, responded with three heart emojis in the comment section of the post, while her elder sister Fann Woon Wah wrote: "Thank you for sharing," and tagged their younger brother Chee Meng.
Fann's younger sister Wenqing, who acted as Tammy Tay in the first season of local English series Growing Up (1996), expressed her appreciation towards Lim for keeping the business card in pristine condition.
She shared that the tailoring business was actually owned by their second granduncle and her parents used to work for him until they started their own tailoring business later making hotel uniforms.
She added that her three other siblings — including Fann — had also commented and liked the post: "We are a messy, crazy and close-knitted bunch. Hence, we are all so excited to see this post because family means so much."
Wenqing also clarified that Fann, whose real name is Fann Woon Fong, is using an English stage name combining their parents' surnames.
She ended the post by thanking the netizen: "Brings us so many memories to relive and joy to see that he is remembered fondly.
"My dad lived his years as a fighter who never gave up and believed in using only honest means to raise his family with his own hands. We're extremely proud to be his children."
Chee Meng also commented in the post.
He wrote: "Thanks for the fond memories! He and my mum took pride in every pair of pants and suit. In fact, he made all my pants and suits, which I am still wearing till this day."
A netizen asked why he or his siblings didn't take over the tailoring business, and he replied that their father had attempted to teach him before.
"Unfortunately, it is a skill set that can be learnt but not mastered easily. Without mastering it, the final product will just be like buying from department stores," he explained.
Wenqing also shared that their father had attempted to pass on his craft to her: "But he was uncomfortable with my 'modern' ideas and whatnot hahaha!"
The elderly man died aged 81 in July 2021. A month earlier, Fann posted on Instagram a photo of herself with her parents to mark Father's Day and he was wearing a nasal cannula.
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