Mourners came from far and wide across Dominica to sympathize with the family and bid a final farewell to the “Penville 5″ on Saturday, August 19.
Brenon Mandella Opher; Cecil Jude Jean Jr; Chris Richard Marcellin; Clement LeBlanc Jr and Jean Lewis Tervary Sango died in a traffic accident in Ambas, Vieille Case on Sunday August 6, 2017.
The funeral service was not for the weak of heart as the weeping and wailing were uncontrollable.
The wailing became intense when the coffins, bearing the remains of the five each with their nicknames on them were seen.
“Jr. Jr, wake up, I am calling you, please.”
“Oh God, help us please.”
“Cecil…look me, Blix I calling you, Fresso I want to hear you, Max look us, talk to us. Flus, Flus, Flus why did you have to go.”
“Gone too soon, so young, so much promise.”
Many fainted and nurses and doctors were called to assist as those close to the deceased men could not contain themselves.
“I never thought that I would have buried you,” the father of one sobbed as he held the coffin of his son.
Among those at the funeral were Prime Minister and MP for the area Roosevelt Skerrit and his Cabinet colleagues.
Bishop of, Roseau His Lordship Gabriel Malzaire and members of the Catholic Clergy, President of Dominica His Excellency Charles Savarin and his wife, members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and other religious denominations, were also present.
“We will meet again brothers….we love you all.”
“A son, a brother, a father, a boyfriend….RIP.”
Meanwhile, Catholic Priest, Father Herman Sharplis, urged the youth of the parish and of Dominica by extension, to not lose sight of God.
Sharplis, in his homily at the funeral, stressed the need for the young people to listen to the message of God, and regardless of what day people choose to worship, to remember and follow the moral teachings of parents and guardians.
He noted that the “tradition” is changing in Dominica where young people have placed more value on worldly activities than activities that glorify God.
According to him, this is where parents have to play their role in teaching their children “the way of the Lord.”
“The whole tradition is changing. Young people today, on a Sunday that is when they are coming out from the fete to go and sleep, you were not taught that way. Parents teach your children the way of the Lord. Show them who God is, teach them that nothing else in life matters but to know the Lord and to die in the Lord,” he said.
The Catholic priest exhorted the people that their common goal should be to live and die for the Lord as He is the one “who gives us hope for tomorrow.”
“Everything here is just for a time…Let us look to God, He alone can give us hope for tomorrow, and let us live our lives as if all that matters to us is to live for the Lord and to die for the Lord. Let us take the call of God to come back to Him. Come back to the Lord as we read in the Bible ‘I will give you rest.’ That is the call, and let us rest in the Lord. Let us love the Lord, let us serve the Lord,” he stated.
Sharplis reminded those gathered that for those who die in the Lord, will live with the Lord forever.
He encouraged the family members to be strong and notwithstanding the fact that their loved ones will no longer be with them, they must remember that God is with them, and will strengthen them.
Tears flowed but rum flowed even more. Enough to make you weep.
This still is heart wrenching! I am certain we ALL share you pain. Time heals ALL wounds. Stay stronger!!!
Reading this is enough to make one shed tears. I visualize the grief, the tears at the funeral, saying goodbye to the loved ones who left so sudden, so unexpectedly. It is also heartrending at a time as this and tears will flow uncontrollably.
Take heart! God is good, he who said, “I will never forsake you my people. . .”
He is always with you; always surrounding you. He has also been with you from the moment you heard of what occurred to your loved ones. He knows how difficult it is for you and will be for a while, that there is a period of mourning and that their memories will always remain with you.
Be aware as you mourn their loss and shed tears of sorrow, Heaven is with you; also noticing your pain of parting from your loved ones. It is also heartrending for the holy ones above to see this sorrow of God’s children on earth. There is no doubt they also shed tears with you.
May your departed loved ones rest in peace. Amen!
RIP my brothers.. Its clear to everyone now much these guys were loved.. They were gone much too soon but by the way everyone came out in support tells me that they all left an indelible mark in the hearts of everyone.. That’s what matters that no matter how young they were they touched peoples lives be it with a smile….a kind word…. A helping hand… I never met anyone one of them yet I feel like we were all good friends. The way I hear people talk about them is inspiring and should be comforting to loved ones… They were all amazing intelligent guys with dreams. they played their parts while on earth ..its left to those who are left behind to carry on their legacy….. I pray that the hearts of their families will be encouraged each and every day.. RIP brother’s…
It was a nice funeral that reminded me of two events in the bible. Firstly, it reminded me of the burial of Lazarus and the Rich man in Luke 16:19-31, not that any of the deceased was rich but offcourse it displayed the riches of Skerrit. Secondly, it reminded me of the story in genesis 22, when Abraham went to offer his son Isaaac as a sacrifice.
As far as the funeral is concerned, as soon as Skerrit came well arrayed in his darkers, attention was shifted to Skerrit and the festivity that he put together for as soon as they were laid to rest
While we are crying for our CHILDREN whom we will never see no more in this life we are focussing our attention on Doctor the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit
I think to my self the mourners should begin to inquire about their loved ones, what kind of sacrifice was It five “5 male that openeth the womb, was it a sacrifice, and if so for what purpose?
Amen strong words from the priest
My condolences to all the families. May God Himself comfort us all. Peace be to you all.