“We think of you every day, we hope that whatever we do, you will be proud of us.”
To her family, 15-year-old Jenna Chan was like warm sunshine dispelling the gloom, and the bond that held them together. But on 8 November 2024, the St. Joseph's Institution International student’s life was cut short in a snorkelling accident during a school study trip to the Maldives.
Two years on, her parents, Alan Chan, 60, and Jennifer Liauw, 55, recalled moments from their daughter’s life in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao before a memorial Mass organised by Maris Stella Convent on Saturday (7 November).
The convent regularly holds memorial Masses for deceased members of the Catholic community. Saturday’s Mass commemorated two members, including Jenna.
Memories frozen in time
Chan and Liauw said the family still regularly cleans Jenna’s room, changes her bedsheets and preserves her belongings. They also continue to charge her mobile phone and tablet, as if, by keeping everything as it was, their daughter never left.
Memories of family meals are also frozen in time. Jenna loved spaghetti bolognese, which Liauw cooked for the family the night before she left for the trip. Little did they know it would be the last time they would eat the dish together. Liauw has not cooked it since her daughter’s death.
Through tears, Liauw revealed that a small portion of the meat sauce left over from that evening is still in the freezer. For two years, the family has not had the heart to take it out to thaw.
The family remembers Jenna as mature, independent and confident, with a kindness beyond her years. Chan said, "She always see the best in people, she always thinks people are good."
Her family said Jenna always did her best to help anyone around her who was in difficulty. At home, she was both the “peacemaker” when her parents argued and a thoughtful daughter. She had aspired to become a geriatrician so she could take good care of her grandparents and parents in future.
Although Jenna was the younger daughter, she often looked after her sister, who was two years older. Her sister, Zhihui, now 19, recalled how Jenna would always offer help and support her through difficult times. "She is kind of like a sunshine in my life".
Jenna shared that warmth with her friends too. A keen baker, she often made cookies for her schoolmates. Her family takes comfort in the fact that her close friends still visit from time to time, sharing updates and everyday stories, as though they were still “talking” to her.
About 150 people attended Saturday’s memorial Mass, including Jenna’s relatives, friends, fellow Catholics, schoolmates and teachers.
The family’s deep sense of loss was evident throughout the interview, with Liauw wiping away tears several times. What they miss most are ordinary moments, such as sitting down together for a meal. Liauw said, her voice full of pain, "When we do actually sit down, it is horrible because like she is clearly not there, like a stab in the heart."
‘Keep her light shining’
In a statement issued on 20 July this year, Chan and Liauw said they had filed a claim for damages against St. Joseph's Institution International in the High Court that day, which would have been their daughter’s 17th birthday. The case is ongoing.
Jenna was actively involved in charity work. Hoping to carry on her compassion, her family continues to donate to the animal welfare organisations she supported.
With reddened eyes, Liauw said, "We want to keep her light shining, pass her goodness and kindness to other people."
Two years on, the family hopes Jenna’s legacy will not just be cherished memories, but also the abundant kindness and warmth she brought to those around her.
