The dead body of Jacintha Saldanha,46, mother of two, who was found
hanging in her nurses' quarters at London's King Edward VII's Hospital by a colleague and a security guard on December 7, is being flown to her motherland, India today. Her funeral will take place
tomorrow at Our Lady of Health Church in the town of Shirva, Karnataka, at 4pm local time, her family said.
Some days earlier the nurse had transferred a call from two Australian
DJs, believing they were the Queen and Prince of Wales, to a colleague who described in detail the condition of the Duchess during her hospital stay for severe pregnancy sickness.
Ms Saldanha's children described the "unfillable void" left in their lives by
their mother's death as a mass was held at Westminster Cathedral yesterday. Following the service, her husband Benedict Barboza and two children Junal and Lisha paid an emotional tribute to a "kind-hearted, generous and well-respected woman". Fighting back tears, Mr Barboza said: "My wife, you were the light in my darkness, who always showed me the way forward. From the day we met, you always stood by me in times of hardship and happiness. I feel a part of me has been ripped out. Without your beautiful smile and sparkling personality, the house is an empty place to live.”
He added: "Nineteen years of togetherness with a strong bond of affection
and understanding will becherished forever in my life. Your loss is a very painful one and nobody can take that place in my life ever again. I love you and miss you forever."
Ms Saldanha's daughter Lisha, 14, said: "We will miss your laughter, the loving memories and the good times we had together. The house is an empty dwelling without your presence. We are shattered and there's an unfillable void in our lives. We love you mum, sleep in peace and watch over us until me meet again in heaven. We will always love you and keep you close to our heart."
Her son Junal, 16, said: "Our mother, kind hearted, generous and a
well respected woman in both of our lives. You were the core of the family who kept is together. In times of difficulty you showed us the way forward to happiness and success. Your priority for us was a good education and a bright future. You taught us right from wrong which we appreciate. You worked tirelessly to give us everything that we have today. When we achieved good grades and merit, your pat on our backs encouraged us more."
Standing outside the cathedral alongside their local MP Charlotte Leslie and MP Keith Vaz, who has been campaigning on behalf of the family, Mr Barboza said the family "could not have foreseen the unprecedented tragedy that has unfolded in our lives".
"The events of the last week have shattered our lives. We barely have the strength to withstand the grief and sorrow."
He thanked the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prime Minister David Cameron for their condolences.
Memorial services have already been held at the hospital where Ms Saldanha worked and in Bristol where her husband and children live.
Indian-born Ms Saldanha left two notes in her room and also had marks on her wrist when her body was discovered, Westminster Coroner's Court in London heard on Thursday.
A provisional date of March 26 has been set for the next inquest hearing. John Lofthouse, the King Edward VII's Hospital chief executive, has said the nurse was reassured on a number of occasions by senior management after the hoax.
The DJs behind the call - Mel Greig and Michael Christian - have
given an emotionalaccount of their reaction to Ms Saldanha's death. Interviewed on Australian TV networks, the presenters said their prank call to the hospital prompted "a tragic turn of events no-one could have predicted or expected".
Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), the parent company of 2Day FM, has ended the pair's Hot 30 show and suspended prank calls across the company.
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