On July 14, 2019, Robert Joseph Soeherman passed into eternal life while he had been a resident of the Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Mobile, Alabama, for the past two and a half years, while undergoing care for an extended illness.
Robert, the son of Tan Liong Djien and Elly Oeij Tjiat Nio, was born on May 4, 1936 in Surabaya, Indonesia where he lived his childhood, attended school where he would meet Frieda during SMP school year in Bogor, Indonesia, who would later become his wife on August 25, 1963. He later graduated from college in the same area and continued his undergraduate education in Economics.
His career while in Indonesia was the Promotion Executive of Dunhill International in Jakarta where he would receive multiple honors and recognition from distinguished individuals such as Secretary of State in Indonesia and the Minister of the Australian Embassy.
In August 7, 1981, the Soeherman family immigrated to the United States of America where Robert would seek a career in warehouse of Yue Hwa USA in San Francisco and as security receptionist of Compaq Computer - Hewlett-Packard in Menlo Park, California.
He is survived by eight siblings and spouses: sister Gabriel Tan and husband Yauw Tjwan Kho in California, sister Mariani Susilo and husband Robert Sutanto in California, sister Elizabeth Susilo and the late John Mangunprawira in California, brother Bernard Susilo and wife Liana, brother Frans Sagitanto Susilo and wife Sindawati Gani in Bogor, Indonesia, sister Josta Maria Tan Giok Tien and husband Ron Byrne in Australia, brother Alexander Aloysius Tan Tjong Liat Tanumara and wife Farida The Giok Bwee in Indonesia, and sister Yvonne Francisca Tan Giok Lien and the late Eduardo Manel Pangalila in Indonesia. And also one deceased sibling Richard Andreas Tan Tjong San.
Robert and Frieda have three children with one of them being a catholic priest: Albert with wife Ira in California, Michael with wife Coby in Alabama, and Fr. Miguel Marie of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word in Irondale, Alabama. They also have surviving eight grandchildren: Matthew, Anthony, Francisca, Gabriela, Rebecca, Abigail, Christiana, and Benedict.
He was baptized as Robert Phillip Maria Joseph during his SMP school year in Makassar in Indonesia. He was a very devout Catholic and had many great devotions one of which was praying for priests and founded Parents of Priests Prayer Group in Birmingham, Alabama during the inaugurated liturgical Year for Priests. His other devotions were attending daily Mass, praying daily the Holy Rosary and the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, and regularly making Eucharistic Holy Hours; one of the most special devotions that he had and was well known for was regularly praying the Stations of the Cross on his knees.
On Thursday July 18th, friends and families will receive his body at the Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor (1655 McGill Ave, Mobile, AL 36604) at 3 o’clock in the afternoon with the praying of the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy; and at 4:30p praying the Rosary and Evening Prayer from the Office of the Dead; and viewing continues until Friday early morning.
On Friday July 19th, private viewing for the family will begin at 5:30pm until 6pm in the chapel of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church (2 Xavier Cir, Birmingham, AL 35213) and public viewing will begin from 6 o’clock in the church with the vigil service with rosary will begin at 7pm.
On Saturday July 20th, public viewing at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church will be available from 8:30a until 9:45a follows with 10a funeral Mass for the blessed repose of his soul and his body will be laid to his final rest at Forest Crest Cemetery in Irondale, Alabama.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18