The funeral of five victims of the Gharb Firework Factory, all members of the Farrugia family from Fontana, took place this afternoon, Nenu his sons Noel and Raymond, daughter-in-law Antoinette and son-in-law Paul Micallef.

At 3.30pm, the funeral cortege left from from the Church of Our Lady of Pompeii in Santa Dominka Street to the Sacred Heart Sanctuary in Fontana. The funeral cortege paused in front of Nenu’s widow, Mary Farrugia’s home, to allow her to throw white flowers as a salute to the victims. Mrs Farrugia did not attend the funeral.

The funeral mass was led by Mgr George Bezzina, the former Fontana parish priest, his niece Tiberia is the widow of one of the victims, Raymond Farrugia. The Gozo Bishop, Mario Grech, did not attend as he is currently visiting Jerusalem, a letter from him was read out during the ceremony. President George Abela, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat attended the funeral.

Mgr Bezzina’s homily was on tthe example set by Job in the Bible, about recovering from personal tragedy, he stressed the value of life as a whole. Mgr Bezzina also said that the farewell to the victims would be only temporary, as they would all be reunited in the afterlife.

Raymond Farrugia’s son Luca read the bidding prayers, he asked the congregation to pray for his grandfather, uncles and aunt, and the loved ones that they lhad left behind. Poems were read out at the end of the mass by Tiberia’s uncle, Charles Bezzina, Nenu’s nephew Godwin Attard and Antinette’s uncle Charlie Cutajar. A collection was held for the victims’ families.

A private burial later took place, Raymond Farrugia was buried in Qala and the remainder of the family at the Victoria Cemetery.

Photographs above by Lorne Cremona – www.lornecremona.com

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