MANGALORE: Memories of his once-a-happy-family came rushing as Shibu A Joseph tried in vain to fight tears at a special mass organised in St Alphonsa Catholic Church at Kankanady on Sunday to condole the death of his wife Rosily Shibu and daughters Godwina and Gloria who perished in the plane crash at the Mangalore Airport terminal.
On Friday, graphic designer Shibu felt blessed to be celebrating his tenth wedding anniversary in the wonderful company of his wife and children. Addressing thousands of friends, relatives and well wishers, who had gathered for the special mass, Shibu recollected driving his family to the Dubai Airport.
En route, his children, seated behind, played a simple game. The youngest, Gloria, mimicking the announcements of places as in metro train, said: “next station is airport.’’ His elder daughter joined in saying; “next is flight.’’ “Next is Mangalore,’’ Gloria said and Godwina added that next was home. “Gloria, not willing to give up, said next is sleep,’’ recollected Shibu, choking over his words. His family has now gone to eternal sleep, he said.
“The deaths (of wife and children) are very painful but I have come to accept it, for which I have got strength from the prayers,” he said.
The two-hour special mass in Malayalam at the church, under Syro Malabar Catholic diocese, was led by Vicar General Fr Josh Vallipavambil. When the coffins carrying the corpses arrived from the hospital, many women wept bitterly cursing the cruel fate for having snatched the lives of young people.
Later, the totally charred corpses were cremated at Jeppu cemetery. Nearly 50 bodies claimed by relatives were cremated in and around Mangalore at Jumma Masjid, Ullal, Jeppu Cemetery and Nandini rudhrabhoomi.