Dec 1, 2008
Strangers pay respects
By Judith Tan
SCORES of strangers streamed steadily into the white
air-conditioned marquee at the foot of the Teresa Ville block,
where slain Singaporean lawyer Ms Lo Hwei Yen laid to pay their
last respects to her on Monday.
Many did not know her personally but felt compelled to offer a word
of comfort and support to her grieving family.
Ms Lo, 28, was taken hostage by terrorists at Mumbai's Oberoi
Trident hotel late last Wednesday. Her body was found on the 17th
floor two days later.
Her husband Michael Puhaindran, 37, also a lawyer, brought her body
back to Singapore on Sunday morning.
Fransciscan nun, Sister Carmen, 54, who was among those who turned
up on Wednesday morning, said she will be offering a mass intention
for Ms Lo at her church. 'I feel the need to do something for the
family. It is my way of showing solidarity,' she said.
Also offering his words of comfort was the head of the Catholic
Church here, Archbishop Nicholas Chia. He was there at 10.30 am but
declined to speak to the media.
Others include housewife Hannah Ng, 55, and retired cop Henry
Thomas, 70, both from Jurong.
'I was very sad and touched when I read the reports, especially
when I saw what her husband wrote in the obituary. I had to come
down and see the family,' Mr Thomas said.
Also offering words of comfort was actor Pierre Png. Mr Png, who
turned up in grey pants and light grey tee-shirt, said he did not
know Ms Lo, her husband or her family, but felt the need to attend
the wake after reading about her horrific death in the
papers.
He stayed for over an hour, speaking in low tones with both Mr
Puhaindran and Ms Lo's father, Mr Lo Ping Yiu.
As a mark of respect, the Singapore office of UK law firm
Stephenson Harwood, where Ms Lo worked, will be closed on
Thursday.