Community bids adieu to “little-angel” Aldrich
Community members gathered at the Ellerslie Catholic Church to bid their final goodbye to Aldrich Viju - described as a "little angel" - at a prayer service held in his memory this morning.
Little Aldrich, 4, died in a tragic accident at Angel's Child Care Centre in Takapuna on Friday, November 18.
Little Aldrich was brought in a hearse just after 10.30 a.m. as his parents sat inconsolable inside the church.
The father of the ill-fated boy was clearly in denial and was struggling to come to terms with the devastating news.
Rev. Father mentioned the Aldrich’s parents’ regular visits the church and the church stands by them in the hour of their deepest sorrows.
Aldrich’s parents sobbed next to the casket in the church throughout the prayer service, friends of the family held on to them all the while.
“The family is broken and are unable to accept and come to the terms of their beloved son’s death,” said Joseph Devasia, president of Auckland Malayali Samajam Incorporated.
The family and friends, along with several community leaders and Members of Parliament were present on the occasion to express their solidarity with the grieving parents.
Despite a strong support of the close-knit Malayali community in Auckland the parents of the deceased boy are struggling hard to cope with this devastating news and have expressed desire to take back their boy to their hometown in Kochi, India, where they are hoping to find some respite in the arms of family.
Previously, on Sunday morning, Sanjiv Kohli High Commissioner of India in Wellington visited the grieving family at their Takapuna residence, along with his wife, Ruma Kohli.
Expressing his condolences, Kohli said that losing a child is a painful experience and in this time of grief, the High Commission of India will provide all possible assistance to the family, including footing the bill for the repatriation of the child's body back to their native state of Kerala in India.
Joseph Devasia President of the Malayalam Community expressed gratitude on behalf of the family and the community to Kohli, who further promised to provide all assistance and facilitation needed during this period.
Further to this, the High Commissioner was pleased to see the Malayalam community rallying behind the family and provide them with mental and psychological support.
Rev. Father Joy led the prayer service while a soft chant reverberated in the background in the church.
In a reflection of shock and deep pain accompanying this untimely death of a precious young life, there were no speeches at the memorial services.
However, the family has acknowledged the support they received from the Indian High Commissioner and the wider community at this hour of great crisis.
Aldrich is survived by his parents, two-year-old sister Andrea Viju and the parents are expecting another child soon.
Around 300 people gathered at the services expressed their sorrows of the untimely depart of the little soul. The visitors were allowed to see the body after the prayer services and they offered flowers and wreaths to the Aldrich.
The police investigation is still in progress, and the cause of the death is yet to be declared.
Community members gathered at the Ellerslie Catholic Church to bid their final goodbye to Aldrich Viju - described as a "little angel" - at a prayer service held in his memory this morning.
Little Aldrich, 4, died in a tragic accident at Angel's Child Care Centre in Takapuna on Friday, November...
Community members gathered at the Ellerslie Catholic Church to bid their final goodbye to Aldrich Viju - described as a "little angel" - at a prayer service held in his memory this morning.
Little Aldrich, 4, died in a tragic accident at Angel's Child Care Centre in Takapuna on Friday, November 18.
Little Aldrich was brought in a hearse just after 10.30 a.m. as his parents sat inconsolable inside the church.
The father of the ill-fated boy was clearly in denial and was struggling to come to terms with the devastating news.
Rev. Father mentioned the Aldrich’s parents’ regular visits the church and the church stands by them in the hour of their deepest sorrows.
Aldrich’s parents sobbed next to the casket in the church throughout the prayer service, friends of the family held on to them all the while.
“The family is broken and are unable to accept and come to the terms of their beloved son’s death,” said Joseph Devasia, president of Auckland Malayali Samajam Incorporated.
The family and friends, along with several community leaders and Members of Parliament were present on the occasion to express their solidarity with the grieving parents.
Despite a strong support of the close-knit Malayali community in Auckland the parents of the deceased boy are struggling hard to cope with this devastating news and have expressed desire to take back their boy to their hometown in Kochi, India, where they are hoping to find some respite in the arms of family.
Previously, on Sunday morning, Sanjiv Kohli High Commissioner of India in Wellington visited the grieving family at their Takapuna residence, along with his wife, Ruma Kohli.
Expressing his condolences, Kohli said that losing a child is a painful experience and in this time of grief, the High Commission of India will provide all possible assistance to the family, including footing the bill for the repatriation of the child's body back to their native state of Kerala in India.
Joseph Devasia President of the Malayalam Community expressed gratitude on behalf of the family and the community to Kohli, who further promised to provide all assistance and facilitation needed during this period.
Further to this, the High Commissioner was pleased to see the Malayalam community rallying behind the family and provide them with mental and psychological support.
Rev. Father Joy led the prayer service while a soft chant reverberated in the background in the church.
In a reflection of shock and deep pain accompanying this untimely death of a precious young life, there were no speeches at the memorial services.
However, the family has acknowledged the support they received from the Indian High Commissioner and the wider community at this hour of great crisis.
Aldrich is survived by his parents, two-year-old sister Andrea Viju and the parents are expecting another child soon.
Around 300 people gathered at the services expressed their sorrows of the untimely depart of the little soul. The visitors were allowed to see the body after the prayer services and they offered flowers and wreaths to the Aldrich.
The police investigation is still in progress, and the cause of the death is yet to be declared.
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