Teresa Hsu

Teresa Hsu
許哲
Born(1898-07-07)7 July 1898[1]
Shantou, Qing China
Died(2011-12-07)7 December 2011
(aged 113 years, 153 days)
Singapore
EducationHonorary Doctorate Degree,[2] University of Southern Queensland
Occupation(s)Charity worker, social worker, yoga teacher, nurse
Websitehearttoheartservice.org

Teresa Hsu Chih (7 July 1898 – 7 December 2011) (Chinese: 许哲; pinyin: Xǔ Zhe), was a Chinese-born Singaporean charity worker, social worker, yoga teacher, nurse, and supercentenarian known affectionately as "Singapore's Mother Teresa", in recognition for her active lifelong devotion in helping the aged, sick, and destitutes locally.[3] The retired nurse was the founder of the non-profit charities—Heart to Heart Service and the Home for the Aged Sick, one of the first homes for the aged sick in Singapore. She had been a social worker in China and Paraguay and a nurse in England, before coming to Singapore to start similar non-profit charities since 1961. Despite being a supercentenarian, Hsu was still involved in charity work and was one of very few supercentenarians who were recognised for reasons other than their longevity. She had spent almost all her savings on feeding and housing the poor and the elderly, all of whom were younger than she was, while she herself led a simple and humble lifestyle.[4] In 2005, she received the Special Recognition Award from the Singapore government in recognition of her contribution to the country.[5]

  1. ^ "Supercentenarian but she'll still be there for the needy". The Straits Times. 8 July 2007.
  2. ^ "USQ News dated 23 April 2003" (PDF). University of Southern Queensland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2007.
  3. ^ Tay, Ming Liang (7 January 2000). "Letter—She is our very own Mother Teresa". The Straits Times.
  4. ^ Khng, Eu Meng (1995). Singapore's Extraordinary People—"Teresa Hsu: Never too old to care for others". Singapore: Landmark Books. pp. 48–53. ISBN 981-3002-96-4.
  5. ^ Yap, Su-Yin (23 November 2005). "The Substation wins award for model fund-raising drive". The Straits Times.