Mrs Michelle Tan

Mrs Michelle Tan

THERE has been great sadness in the greater Dundrum area after the recent death in Singapore of Michelle Tan.

Michelle was the wife of former Dundrum man Mark Maguire whose parents, Des and Irene, live at Castle Hill in the village. Michelle, who was 43, died on Thursday after a long battle with brain cancer.

The mother of two daughters, Jade (12) and Hailey (9), Michelle was a former lawyer turned vintage store owner, who started the Chope Food for the Needy movement in April 2013. The movement was inspired by the suspended coffee movement in Italy where, after buying themselves coffee, people can leave money for a cup for anyone in need who asks for one.

The Chope Food for the Needy movement involved customers paying in advance for meals for those who may not be able to afford a proper meal at a food centre. Michelle was shocked into action while eating with Mark in a market in Singapore. She saw a cleaning lady open her packed lunch of plain rice to which she added packets of sauce from McDonald’s to make it tastier.

At the time of her death the Facebook page she set up had more than 12,000 likes.

Michelle’s symptoms first appeared over a year ago but it was during a trip to Dundrum that the seriousness of her condition was realised. Tests in hospital revealed a glioblastoma tumour behind her right eye.

Despite her strong wish to return home for a second opinion, doctors advised against it because the increased air pressure on the plane might aggravate her condition.

She agreed to an operation to remove part of the tumour, as well as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, spending five months in Northern Ireland before she was well enough to return home.

Despite another operation and more treatment in Singapore, the tumour returned and developed aggressively. Mark, an architect, stopped work to care for this wife, along with his mother-in-law and two domestic helpers.

Tragically Michelle passed away early on Thursday morning.

Michelle had a strong personality which friends and loved ones described as witty, determined and, above all, loving. Even when she was seriously ill, and in a wheelchair, her caring personality was to the fore: she often asked Mark to chase after a poor person and give them $10 or $20 dollars.

She was devoted to her husband and children and so great was her love for the girls that she protected them from the seriousness of her condition until it became clear just a few weeks before her death just how critically ill she was.

One of her final wishes was to tell friends to be dressed in bright colours at her wake, and those in Halloween costumes would be rewarded with extra nuts an candy.

Michelle’s funeral service took place in Singapore on Sunday. She is survived by Mark, her daughters, Jade Shan-An and Hailey Rui-An, her mother Chia Sok Cheng Dora, brother Kevin Tan En Ali and parents-in-law Des and Irene Maguire.