History is a guide to navigation in perilous times.
David McCullough
History is who we are and why we are the way we are.
New Paradise is the child of Haozi Trading Funeral Services that was started by Mdm Helen Ker in 1994. She single-handedly opened the door into the trade with the help of her trusted friends who were Saikongs and undertakers; and it was these precious relationships amongst business partners who became friends that made the funeral industry special to her. She learnt the trade from scratch and began by providing prayer items for the Taoist Saikongs and Buddhist Monks to do their prayers during the funeral wake. She also learnt the art of floral arrangement and provided flowers. Soon, she managed Taoist and Buddhist funeral wakes, specialising in Hokkien Taoist Funerals, and provided excellent service, warmth and that personal touch to every family she met.
She worked hard not just for herself, but for her 2 children; Jian Hao (建豪）and Yingzi (瑛姿）. In fact the name Haozi represents the names of her 2 children; 豪 （Hao) and 姿 （zi）. There is no greater reason and purpose behind hard work than to be for the family. As the children grew up, Howard took interest in the coordination of funerals and started his apprenticeship when he was 20 years old. As a Christian since 14 years old, he saw this as a meaningful service to help people during a time of crisis, such as death, to lighten their worries and burden by assisting them with the arrangement. It was his way of service to mankind; an attempt to bring comfort and peace to the people who are hurting and grieving.
This was why he started New Paradise Funeral Services.
Howard officially took over the operations of Haozi Trading Funeral Services and New Paradise Funeral Services in 2015 in the most unexpected of ways. Mdm Helen Ker was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer in November 2014. Even though she was sick, she continued to help people with funeral arrangements; sometimes meeting the family at 2am in the morning. She treated Haozi Trading like her precious baby as she put in her heart and soul into this business for many years. Howard and his wife tried their best not to disappoint and learnt the Taoist and Buddhist rites as quickly as they could so that they could shoulder the burden together with their mother.
She could not escape death, it ultimately happened in May 2015; our mother left to be with the Lord. She rested in peace after working hard for so many years.
Even as we continue the business,
we remember her gusto,
we remember her love,
we remember her tenacity,
we remember her generosity,
we remember her hard work,
we remember her heart work,
we remember her big heart.
We have big shoes to fill but just like how she worked hard for her children. We now work hard for our children… 涵平 and 义凡。
We remember her motto and do our best to uphold her value of 可以帮，我们就帮.
Mom, may we do you proud.
