Ms Nancy Gan - artist, socialite and philanthropist - was cremated on Sunday evening at Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium, after a two-day wake in Mount Vernon Sanctuary.

She was found dead in the swimming pool of her Bukit Timah bungalow last Wednesday. She was 69 years old.

Her maid of just nine days, 23-year-old Dewi Suko Wati, has been charged with her murder and has been remanded for psychiatric assessment.

None of Ms Gan's family members had met the new maid who, if convicted, could be sentenced to death.

Yesterday afternoon, a small crowd of Ms Gan's relatives and friends milled around the funeral hall, filled with floral arrangements carrying condolence messages from a bevy of well-wishers that included property consultancy Orange Tee and luxury lifestyle magazine Icon.

The cortege left Mount Vernon at about 5.45pm for the crematorium.

Family members, looking sombre and exhausted, declined to speak to the press.

Ms Gan's son, Mr Victor Lim - who has been described by her friends as being the closest to her - has remained tight-lipped on his mother's death. He lived with her, but was in Korea when she died.

He followed closely as his mother's casket was carried out of the funeral parlour, head bowed, trailed by his sister, Sharon, a doctor based in London, Britain, and their relatives. Later, he sent the funeral car off with a palm pressed to the glass.

At the crematorium, a crowd of about thirty friends and relatives sat for a short, restrained ceremony of less than 10 minutes. Respectful silence - not tears - accompanied the service.

Mr Lim, who took the lead during the prayer rites, stood before the casket throughout to pay his last respects. He sent his mother off with two deep bows.