SINGAPORE: At 102 years old, Madam Sie Choo Yong manages a grocery store in Beauty World Centre, Singapore, garnering attention for her dedication despite her age.
According to 8world, her family shared that they opened the shop to keep her occupied so she wouldn’t be bored at home.
The video, posted on June 12 by TikTok user dinahnahnah, showed how Madam Sie gave extra lollipops even though they paid S$2 for two.
@dinahnahnah Nearest mrt is Beauty world mrt, downtown line. Drop by if you can! ☺️
She also seemed to charge less for other items bought by the TikTok user’s husband. They didn’t understand her well, but when they gave her S$20 and told her to keep the change, she refused and kept adding more snacks to their bag.
She oversees Lean Seng Lee Trading at the shopping centre in Upper Bukit Timah and gained online fame after a TikTok video about her went viral.
Despite her age, Madam Sie remains active and involved in the shop’s day-to-day operations, although her voice is faint and her speech is occasionally unclear.
Originally from China, Madam Sie moved to Singapore in her 30s, where she worked as a farmer, lifting bags weighing up to 60kg day and night. Now, she has seven children and 27 grandchildren.
According to TODAY, the family also manages a nearby goldsmith shop. Madam Sie’s youngest son, who owns the store she manages, explained that they opened it not for profit but for Madam Sie would not be bored at home.
He also stated that he has no intention of handing over or selling the store, as Madam Sie hopes to continue looking after it for as long as possible.
Lean Kee Suh, her 66-year-old son, who works at a Cold Storage supermarket in Bukit Batok, also mentioned that Madam Sie stays healthy without needing much medication or going to the hospital often.
He said, “She’s healthier than me. Despite being old, she stands and talks with customers, taking breaks outside the store now and then.”
“This store does not make a profit; it is just for her to pass time. We would make more money renting it,” he added.
Every day, Madam Sie arrives at the shopping centre at 8 am, grabs breakfast nearby, and opens the store around 9 am. One of the nearby store owners, Mr Tay Kok Yih, 63, admired how active Madam Sie is for her age and playfully asked:
“Is she really 102 years old?”
The viral video of Madam Sie garnered a heartwarming response from the community. Many Singaporeans online pledged to visit the store to support Madam Sie, recalling their own fond memories of her kindness and dedication over the years.
One patron shared, “Yes please support this aunty. I grew up buying snacks from her shop since primary school. I’m hitting 30 and till this day she remembers me.“ /TISG