Man who ran provision shop at Rosyth Road for nearly 70 years dies aged 86

It was a provision shop, and also his home. 

Ang Lu Heng ran the rustic shophouse at Rosyth Road for nearly seven decades before he retired in 2024 due to ailing health.

Two years later, the owner of Tee Seng Store died from pneumonia on Tuesday (Aug 4) at the age of 86. 

Lu Heng had been bedridden after breaking his leg in a fall last September, his youngest sister told Lianhe Zaobao.

"He often had difficulty breathing due to excessive phlegm," she said.

"About two weeks ago, we rushed him to the hospital because of his breathing difficulties."

Describing her late brother as "polite and tactful", she recounted how he would pick up languages such as Tamil, Sinhala and Tagalog to communicate with the migrant workers and domestic helpers who visited Tee Seng Store.

Lu Heng devoted his entire life to keeping the grocery store running, and helped put his siblings through school.

Even after retirement, he would start his day sitting for a while in the closed store, she shared.

Although he is gone, his spirit will live on in his family's hearts, she said.

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Old-school provision shop

Before its closure on Dec 31, 2024, Tee Seng Store was one of the last remaining provision shops in a landed residential area. 

It was known for its authentic, old-school layout, according to Lost & Found Serangoon.

Tee Seng Store was also featured in local filmmaker Royston Tan's 2016 telemovie The Provision Shop.

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Lu Heng had been working at the provision shop since he was 15. It went through multiple owners before he took over the store at 18.

In a 2020 documentary by Zaobao, his younger siblings recounted the sacrifices their oldest brother made for them.

"My brother is remarkable... because he loves us dearly. He had to work since he was a kid to help with the family expenses, to pay for our education" said younger sister Ang Ah Yee.

According to Lu Heng's obituary, the funeral procession will take place at 9.30am on Saturday. He will be cremated at Mandai Crematorium later that day.

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bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com