SELANGOR – In an industry where sending off the deceased to the afterlife is equally crucial as any other formal occasion, Yi Yuan Life Care stands out from the rest with its modern spin on the funeral business. “We don’t intend to defy traditions. All we’re doing is keeping it alive in a contemporary fashion,” said its co-founder Yung Hong Tan.
Tan is no stranger to the funeral business, starting as a counsellor upon graduating from university, where his responsibility was following up on the deceased’s family after the funeral. He later crossed paths with Alan Koh, who was working at another department within the same company.
Unlike Tan, Alan had no prior experience and merely followed his brother’s footsteps dabbling with the industry. However, he began to nurture newfound respect for it over the years as he experienced tremendous fulfilment while on the job and decided to pursue it full-time.
“After working in the funeral industry for years, we both decided to team up and establish our own business – Yi Yuan Life Care (一圆).”
Same concept, fresh outlook
Stepping into Yi Yuan, one may not realise that it is a funeral parlour thanks to its contemporary furniture, emitting café-like vibes. Tan explained that with its modern design, he hopes common stereotypes and stigmatisation surrounding the funeral business can be dispelled while keeping up with the times.
“Many believe that death is a concept which one cannot discuss due to fears of the unknown, but it shouldn’t be. Death is a lifelong lesson that we need to learn and accept, and if there’s no open dialogue about it, people will continue living in fear, and society will not progress.”
Tan added that funerals are often interlaced with culture, where certain rituals were carried out with no questions asked.
“In the past, we accepted rituals such as wearing red clothes and throwing a feast or staying up all night guarding the coffin. But in today’s context, they may be seen as irrelevant. Thus, before arranging for the funeral, we will discuss with the family on whether they would want those rituals to be done.”
“As this is something most young people may not be aware of, we take the initiative in educating them about these rituals so that they can have a better understanding of its significance.”
Clash of cultures?
Many have argued that Yi Yuan’s take on the funeral industry is in direct opposition to tradition, but Alan doesn’t think so. “Having worked for several years in the conventional funeral business, I’m quite familiar with its inner workings. Some may not agree with Yi Yuan’s procedures, but we believe that it makes for a smoother and more manageable funeral,” he explains.
“Nevertheless, the family has the final say in deciding how the funeral will be carried out. If they wish to adhere to traditions, we will respect their wishes and do so. Besides, we also discuss every detail of the ceremony with them before moving further. In turn, this will help in fostering a more open-minded and progressive society.”
While most would shudder at the thought of working in the funeral business, both Tan and Alan have found it to be a rewarding job. However, it wasn’t free from occasional hurdles.
“My partner wasn’t enthusiastic about me getting involved in this line of work as I was required to be on-call 24 hours. But as time passed, she gradually became comfortable with it and now fully supports me in my endeavours,” said Alan.
Sacrificing for the greater good
For Tan and Alan, their biggest challenge was transiting from office workers to full-time entrepreneurs.
“At our previous company, we never had to worry about its performance or profits. But now, we have to be at the helm of running Yi Yuan as a successful business.”
Another challenge that the duo currently faces is the lack of funding to operate Yi Yuan. “We used our hard-earned savings from our previous job to establish the place. Like most start-ups, we’re still looking for viable sources of funding,” said Tan.
Nonetheless, these challenges have not dampened their commitment to the business. “We had to make many sacrifices, but after receiving numerous positive feedbacks from the families, it was all worth it,” said Alan.
For Tan, he’s thankful for the families’ willingness to give Yi Yuan a chance in handling the final stage of their loved one’s life. “Doing this gives me a sense of accomplishment and motivates me to continue working hard and serving the community.”
Towards the end of the conversation, we asked Tan and Alan this question: What’s the last thing they would do if they were to pass tomorrow?
After a brief pause, Tan quipped, “I’d like to go diving with a whale!”
Alan, however, chose a much different route. “I’d rather have dinner with all my favourite cuisines laid at a table for me.”
Sources: Cover image via 一圓 YI YUAN for WeirdKaya
Editor: Raymond Chen
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh
