Also known as:
- Evelyn
- Mrs. Kwee
- Ong Thiam Tjiong Nio
- Bolle
- Kouyong
- Mama
- Tante Eef
- Tante Tjiong
- Iek Tjiong
- Tjiek Tjiong
- Sa Iek
- Ipo Tjiong
- Opi
- Oma
- Oma Canada
- G G
Evelyn was born on the 28 Jan 1921 in Magelang Indonesia to a large well off family.
She attended a Catholic school, was always outdoors, climbing trees and eating fruits from their trees. Evelyn spent much of her childhood playing in the elevated aqueduct which ran behind her house, riding cut banana stems. She was street smart.
Evelyn finished Dutch high school, and started medical school when the Second World War started. During the Japanese occupation of Java, school was interrupted. She still managed to learned some Mandarin. She met a doctor who cared for the Dutch interned in camps there. They married in 1945, and began their life in Ngawi together where her first son was born in 1946.
By then, the war had just ended with political turmoil and anarchy settling in the region. Someone grateful to her husband arranged for the young family to flee the chaos, and to go to Batavia (now Jakarta), on a ship bound for Holland. There, her husband studied to get his Dutch MD degree, and Evelyn delivered her second son in 1947.
They settled in post war Amsterdam on meagre earnings and food coupons. They welcomed many relatives and friends from Indonesia to their simple apartment.
In 1949, Indonesia became independent from the Dutch, and the family got passage on the Willem Ruys to return to Indonesia. The ship stopped in the Medan area, where they liked it so much, they eventually came back and settled in the city a few months later, in 1950. After that, he started a humble medical practice in a small building's garage, while Evelyn looked after the children and had a few chickens.
As the practice grew, Evelyn started to help her husband to take care of many consulates from all over the world. Her fluency in Dutch, German, English, French, Indonesian, and Javanese was instrumental. She formed a close bond with the consular women, and was active in their Women’s International Club. Later on, she became a member of the South East Asian Club. In addition, Evelyn formed a close relationship with the doctors’ wives. She organized fashion shows, beauty pageants, and helped in music festivals.
In 1956, she enrolled in the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of North Sumatra. She also built greenhouses, and stared growing orchids. Eventually, Evelyn had four greenhouse full of blooming orchids. Furthermore, she tried hybridization of different orchid varieties.
Two years later, there was a rebellion in Sumatra while the family was vacationing in Singapore. This resulted in Evelyn staying with the boys in Singapore for an extended period of time. As the situation improved, she returned to Medan, and left the boys in Singapore to. complete their studies.
In Medan, Evelyn started playing bridge, and excelled at it. She began to play competitively, progressing to National level, and eventually to International level. She subsequently represented Indonesia at the South East Asian Games, participating in the parade with all the athletes.
In addition to her skills in bridge, Evelyn was a loving person, and took in medical students while treating them as her own. She became a second mother to many, teaching them modern dances including the twist and cha cha, amongst other things.
In the early 70s, the boys settled in Canada. In the late 70s, Evelyn and her husband decided to retire there. They moved to Burlington, Ontario, buying a house on Coleman Court. There, they again made many good Indonesian and Singaporean friends in various social groups.
Evelyn and her husband moved to North Delta in 1983, buying a house on Hyland Place, where she stayed for 38 years. The two guest rooms in that house welcomed many friends and family. They also enjoyed travelling, mostly to visit friends and relatives all over the world. They took multiple road trips with their Ford van all over the US and Canada, again focusing on visiting friends and relatives. Often they traveled with her cousin and his wife.
After her husband passed away in 1998, Evelyn continued to drive her car until she reached 90 years old. She continued to host numerous visitors each year from all over the world, even in her later stages of dementia.
Evelyn is someone who developed close relationships with many people, young and old. Her ability to make others feel special and loved will be fondly remembered.
- Kai and Jeff Kwee