“She was like a mother to us” was a common sentiment expressed by many nurses who bade their last farewells at the wake of Claire (Annie) See Keow Ann. A veteran nurse, Sister See passed away from illness in December 2013, at the age of 65. 

These heartfelt words and eulogies by Singapore General Hospital (SGH) nurses, coupled with Sister See’s innate generosity, inspired her godparents to make a donation to the SGH Nursing Division in her memory. With their gift, the SGH Nursing Advance Fund was established in November 2021. The fund will support the division’s most pressing needs – matters that Sister See was most passionate about as a supervisor, colleague, friend and comrade through her years of service in SGH.

Sister See spent more than 45 years of her career in SGH, predominantly at Ward 57, a general surgery ward that cares for patients with a variety of conditions including vascular diseases, gastrointestinal and bariatric conditions, cancer and trauma among others.

During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, the ward’s nurses and staff had to be quarantined as a unit. Her godsister, Ms Madelene Chung, remembered those days when Sister See spent many hours counselling and reassuring the younger nursing staff amidst the fear of a then-unknown virus. “Annie tried to be a mother and a mentor to them, and encouraged them to stay on and be courageous during that trying period,” she shared.

Calm and mild-mannered, Sister See was known for her generous spirit. She would often stock the ward pantry with goodies and snacks for nurses and always brought back souvenirs for her relatives and fellow nurses from her overseas trips. Whenever there was a fundraiser or appeal for donations, she never hesitated to contribute.

“Annie’s love language was gift-giving, and so it was natural for us to make a gift in her memory to support SGH and healthcare community, to which she had devoted a large part of her life,” said Sister See’s godfather, Mr Joseph Chung.

The funds will be used to nurture and empower all staff in the Nursing Division, including nursing assistants and aides, to fulfil their potential and enable them to deliver the best care to patients. The family hopes that this gift will continue to encourage and nurture current and aspiring nurses, just as Sister See had done throughout her nursing career.

“Sister See was a colleague and close friend, who dedicated her life to training nurses, being a nurturing supervisor to her juniors and a loving friend to her peers. She regarded the hospital community as family, and we all remember her fondly for her kindness and love through her decades of service. This new SGH Nursing Advance Fund, set up in her memory, will continue her legacy of nurturing young nurses and supporting them in their patient care journey,” said Adjunct Associate Professor Tracy Carol Ayre, Group Chief Nurse, SingHealth.

If you would like to support Sister See’s legacy with a gift to the SGH Nursing Advance Fund, please follow the instructions below:
   1. Launch your mobile banking application* and scan the QR code below
 
   2. Key in the Unique Entity Number (UEN): 201624016EANF 
   3. Indicate SGHAFN<space>NRIC/FIN/UEN** under the UEN/Bill Reference Number.
*Participating banks include Citibank, DBS/POSB, HSBC, Maybank, OCBC, Standard Chartered, UOB, ICBC and BOC.
**All donors are required to provide their Singapore Tax Reference number (e.g. NRIC/FIN/UEN where applicable) to enjoy tax deduction