41-year-old radio deejay Kate Reyes dies of breast cancer
PUBLISHED ONNovember 10, 2014 10:17 AM
SINGAPORE - 41-year-old radio DJ Kate Reyes has passed away after losing the battle against breast cancer. She leaves behind her husband and two children.
Reyes was a radio deejay at Perfect 10, Gold 90FM and Heart 91.3FM before joining Lush 99.5FM in 2010 in her 14-year career in showbiz, according to Channel NewsAsia (CNA).
She was last with Mediacorp's Lush 99.5FM.
Reyes married Class 95FM radio DJ Glenn Ong in Dec 1999, when he was a deejay at Perfect 10. They split in April 2003.
According to an article in The Business Times in 2003, Reyes used to own a small jewellery store, Elizabeth Kate, which she set up with her mother, in Cuppage Terrace.
In a status update on her Facebook page, Singapore Press Holdings' Kiss 92FM radio DJ Claressa Monteiro spoke of Reyes' battle with cancer.
Other celebrities who have expressed their condolences on Claressa Monteiro's status include Botak Jones restaurant founder Bernie Utchenik, actress Cynthia MacQuarrie and The Sam Willows' singer Benjamin Kheng.
Mr Bernard Lim, MediaCorp's Managing Director for Television, remembers Reyes as "ambitious". He was her programme director back in radio station Perfect 10, reported Today Online.
"She always worked hard to get results," he said. "I lost touch after she left MediaCorp, so this news comes as a shock to me."
Reyes' ex-husband, Class 95FM radio DJ Glenn Ong, could not be contacted for comment, CNA reported.
According to Today online, a two day wake has been arranged and the funeral is on Wednesday.
Quote from Claressa Monteiro's Facebook page:
"In the last couple of years we drifted out of each others lives, she was busy with raising her kids and building her life with a wonderful husband and I was busy battling with my Mother's illness and eventually her loss. As I come out of mourning after watching my Mum battle so valiantly with her cancer it is heartbreaking to know Kate's family must now come to terms with the same sorrow and loss."
stephluo@sph.com.sg