Family of Four

Last Respects

At 3 pm, together with Jini and Chee, I went to the Nirvana Memorial Centre in Sungai Besi to pay our last respects to Gloria, our dear departed friend. The building was huge and the entrance was imposing. We were met on arrival by a guest relations officer. I mentioned Gloria’s name discreetly and she led me to the lift and asked me to go the Level 2.

The anteroom had a pleasant décor. We signed the guest book and went into the parlour. There were many rows of chairs and sweet music was playing in the background. On the left was an organ.

There was a huge portrait of Gloria with flowers surrounding it. She looked happy. Furtively and solemnly, we went into the inner chamber where Gloria laid in state in a beautiful timber casket. She looked so peaceful as if asleep.

I said my prayers wishing that God will take her under His loving arms and let her sit beside him in heaven where all Christian souls go. Dato’ Leong came in and we proffered him our condolences.

I enquired from Dato’ what were Gloria’s last moments like and he told me that Gloria started wheezing badly on Saturday afternoon (10^th March 2007). They brought her to Universiti Hospital and she was given blood transfusion. However, the transfusion was not successful as the blood flowed out all over the beddings. By 7 am, the next morning (11^th March 2007), Gloria slipped away and was gone. Apparently she also had a stroke a week earlier which complicated further her health condition; causing her to have problems lifting her arms and causing her speech to slur.

The photograph which Dato’ chose for the wake was taken in 2004 when a dinner was held to celebrate Gloria’s supposed remission from cancer. Dato’ also gave us a book of Christian testimonies which Gloria edited. Dato’ then said that Gloria is at a better place now and we agreed with him in his hour of grief.

We put our pakam into a white envelope and dropped it into a box. Each of us then bade Dato’ farewell and left the memorial facility for home with prayers on our lips and in our hearts that Gloria will rest eternal until the second coming of the Lord.

Quote of the Day:

“Friends are family you choose for yourself.” Unknown

Heartsong