The church was packed with hundreds of people, including family, friends, students from La Salle Petaling Jaya, as well as countless former students of the man everyone knew as Brother Felix. All came to say their last farewell to an educator they loved.
Many former students who attended the funeral, also started reminiscing about their school life some 30 to 40 years ago. Brother Felix was headmaster of La Salle PJ from 1975 to 1988.
One former student, known as Richard said Felix encouraged him to be himself despite what others said.
“I remember one time during a trial exam when I was down with an allergy and I thought of skipping the exams as I did not want to be laughed at.
“Brother Felix told me that it didn’t matter how other people looked at you or what they thought of you, just be yourself,” Richard said.
Another student, William Gnanish remembers vividly how Brother Felix was more of a father figure than a headmaster.
“He remembered each of our names, even up to his last days. And we often had gatherings with him on special occasions like Christmas,” William said.
Students especially recalled how Brother Felix would never give up on those who were considered problematic or mischievous in school.
“He spent more time with these boys and he never used the cane unless it was necessary,” Mohan Kumar said.
He added that Brother Felix always gave his students the chance to express themselves as well as the freedom to make their own decisions.
“Eventually, he taught us how to be independent, respectful of people and to value everything in life.”
The La Salle school rally song, “All Through Our College” and “Cheer, Cheer” were sung by former La Sallians as Brother Felix’s casket was carried out of the church into the hearse.
Brother Felix passed away on June 18 after being hospitalised for more than two months.
Felix, was the last of the expatriates among the La Sallian brothers responsible for setting up schools in Malaysia since 1852. The La Sallian brothers represent a teaching order under the Roman Catholic church.
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