Picture – Jarod, Dad, Basil, Joshua, Me and Belinda. Taken CNY 2009.
My Dad was born in Rangoon on Dec 9 1928. That’s the date stated on his official documents but even he wasn’t sure the date of his birth. The place of birth is for sure Burma or Myanmar as it is called now.
Born into a poor family of 8 kids, him being the 4th boy he must have had a happy childhood from his own accounts when he was younger and lucid. He used to regale us with tales of his exciting childhood and the usual naughty things any young boy would do.
Today the disease robs him of his sanity and his good sense of humour and gentleness. My dad has a gentle soul and even now when he is with me, that gentleness shines through.
My earliest memory (I must been 4 years of age) of him was during a wedding he was supposed to attend; I was crying to tag along but both my parents were against me going. It was a tussle of wills and eventually my dad didn’t go for the dinner as he was delayed and probably distressed by my unceasing crying.
As I was his first born, he must have loved me a lot and even till today, though he is suffering from a major loss of memory, he still treats me with love and gentleness. Perhaps the bond of fatherhood goes beyond a clippling disease like Alzheimer’s. I like to think though he has forgotten my name, he has not forgotten his son.
His work took him away from us and that robbed us (me and my siblings) of a normal childhood. We practically grew up without him around, though we would see him 4 to 6 times a year. It must been rough for my mum who has to be both mother and father to us. That period was an extended long separation spanning 31 years from 1971 to 1992.
These days dad goes to St Mary of the Angels with Rose & her family on sunday morning and I would spend monday morning with him seeing Mr Neo, our chinese physician. After Mr Neo, we would have breakfast together just Dad & I. 4 rolls of bread & a glass of teh-c for him and Teochew fish porridge for me. We hardly talk and even if we were to talk, it’s usually about his food. He used to tell me of his younger days in Yangon, he can even speak some Hindi. Comparing his mental health over the months, his condition has deteriorated a lot. My heart aches when I see him. He is such a gentle soul.
There is talk of baptising my dad and initiating him into the Catholic Church. My two sisters, Rose & Marina and I spoke of his becoming Catholic. When he was in his teens, he was in a baptist school and was baptised then by the Christians. I brought up this to Fr John Paul Tan ofm, parish priest and he is open to the idea of baptising Dad.
Our journey continues …
August 14th, 2009 on a friday, the family gathered for my dad’s baptism and reception into the Catholic Church. Fr John Paul Tan ofm officially baptised and received Johnny Maung, our father into the community.
Some of the images can be found at this site — Johnny Maung. We are certainly happy and relieved that Mum offered no resistance to his coming to Church.
Father Albert Renckens, age 79, passed away peacefully this morning, 31st July at 1.40 am at SGH. The wake is from July 31 – 3rd August, 9 am – 11 pm at Damien hall, Blessed Sacrament Church, 1 commonwealth drive
