Sina Solomona. Photo supplied
Hundreds of people gathered to farewell Ashburton mother
Sina Solomona today, just one week after she was murdered in
her Cass Street home.
Friends, family and work colleagues from around the country
gathered at the Baring Square Methodist Church in Ashburton
to celebrate the 22-year-olds' life and mourn her death.
Just after 1pm, more than 400 people lined Baring Square and
packed the church hall, as Rev. Tevita Taufalele opened the
service with a song requested especially by the Solomona
family.
The dark reality of a murder investigation was cast to the
back of minds as songs, spoken tributes and prayers echoed
through the hall as tears flowed.
Instead, today was a day to come together and farewell the
mother, daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend - as they
all fondly reminisced the "family treasure,'' Sina.
As the clock tower chimed 3pm, the white coffin lined with a
silk blanket, wreaths and memorable tributes was carried out
of the double doors by several pall bearers and lowered into
the waiting hearse.
Friends and family adorned in tribute t-shirts reading, In
Loving Memory of Sina Solomona, with a portrait photo of her
printed on the front and back, with R.I.P, 05-04-1990 -
15-12-2012, followed closely behind, as people made their way
to the Ashburton New Lawn Cemetery for the burial service.
For those unable to make the funeral on Saturday, further
tributes continued to appear on the Rest in Paradise Sina
Solomona, Facebook page.
"Today we farewell a beautiful mother, daughter, sister,
niece, cousin and friend. As her journey to the golden gates
above us is coming to an end, we remember the awesome
fun-filled memories we shared with her," one post reads.
"You will be dearly missed Sina by everyone. Your smile, your
laugh, your personality, your everything. You were one of a
kind."
As the service continued, young children ran around in the
sunshine playing in the Baring Square gardens - with no real
understanding of the enormity of the sad events.
Other people also gathered outside the church steps bowing
their heads and paying their respects - despite not going in
to the hall for the service.
Sina Solomona is survived by her daughter Kaira, her mother
Anuella, her twin sister Loretta and her two brothers George
and Richard.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.