A 29-year-old woman with terminal ovarian cancer organized her own living funeral so she could celebrate the last few days of her life with her friends and family – just 10 days before she tragically died.
Michelle Ng, who goes by Mike and lives in Singapore, was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer in 2021 at the age of 27, but in late 2022 she discovered that the cancer had spread and become terminal.
In an effort to reunite with her loved ones for the last time, Mike organized a living funeral, a party held while the person is still alive, so she could share her “love, food, books and music” with her favorite people . people.
The heartwarming ceremony was documented via a YouTube account Our grandfather storyand watched Mike courageously open up about her feelings surrounding death and her sadness about missing life’s many moments.
Michelle Ng, who goes by Mike and lives in Singapore, was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer in 2021 at the age of 27
In an effort to reunite with her loved ones for the last time, Mike organized a living funeral, a party held while the person is still alive.
The heartwarming ceremony was documented by YouTube account Our Grandfather Story and saw Mike courageously open up about her feelings surrounding the death
Before her funeral began, Mike said she was “worried” about the meeting.
She explained that she wanted to celebrate with her family so they could share more special moments together before she breathed her last.
“When someone dies, people rush to call the funeral directors and don’t really spend that intimate time with … the body that just died,” she said.
The 29-year-old welcomed a swarm of loved ones into her home and was smiling from ear to ear as she greeted friends she hadn’t seen for “many years.”
She shed a few tears as she hugged her closest friends, noting that while her health journey hadn’t been “easy,” she “wanted to have this with everyone.”
The 29-year-old explained that she wanted one last chance to be a good friend to her loved ones.
‘I don’t want to wait until I’m dead. I want to see my loved ones and my friends while I’m still alive. I don’t know… how much more of a friend I can be to them.
“So I didn’t want to wait. I want death to come a little closer to the heart. Something that isn’t so scary. It happens day by day.’
Before her funeral began, Mike said she was “worried” about the meeting
She explained that she wanted to celebrate with her family so they could share more special moments together before she breathed her last
Her younger brother Myron also talked about the love he had for his sister
Her friends and family ate and sang along with Rai, one half of Mike’s favorite bands Jack & Rai, as he played a few tunes.
Her younger brother Myron also talked about the love he had for his sister.
“Having Mike as my sister is the best thing that ever happened to me. “I can’t imagine not having a sister in my life,” he said.
Meanwhile, Michelle’s fiancé Yutai said he wished he had “more time” with his love.
As the ceremony came to an end, Mike said, “Okay, I can go outside now.”
She also talked about her feelings about death and why she wasn’t afraid.
‘Death isn’t… scary. It’s the dying part that makes it terrifying. It is scary. It is not the same as death,” the 29-year-old said.
“Having Mike as my sister is the best thing that ever happened to me. “I can’t imagine not having a sister in my life,” he said
Meanwhile, Michelle’s fiancée Yutai said he wished he had “more time” with his love
Mike died just 10 days after her live funeral
‘Death is final. It looks like darkness, right? In the absence of light there is darkness. Otherwise you don’t know what light is. You need darkness to be there. And the same goes for life: if there is no death, you don’t know what life is.
“You need the clarity of death to see clearly in life.”
At the end of her living funeral, she thanked all her loved ones for making her “so happy.”
“It’s not how long we walk together, it’s how many memories we’ve made together that really matters,” she added.
“Thank you for making me so happy today. Your presence is so appreciated. I’m grateful to hear every laugh, see every smile.”
Mike passed away on January 2, just 10 days after her live funeral.