HUNDREDS of islanders said a sad farewell to shooting victim Sarah Falla at the Castel Church yesterday morning. The 34-year-old estranged wife of Michael Falla, 44, who died at Fort Hommet headland, Castel, was described on the service sheet as a treasured and dearly loved daughter.
The Rev. Jan Le Billon, assistant priest with a special responsibility for Castel Church, said the funeral was the busiest she had known for some time.
‘I felt that there was a lot of sadness and a lot of love for Sarah,’ she said.
‘It was very moving. The main thrust of the service was God is with us and gives us the courage and strength to face the future without Sarah and comforts us in our grief.’
Many work colleagues from SG Hambros arrived by coach to pay their last respects. Tributes said Mrs Falla was hard working, considerate, kind, accurate and responsible at the workplace where she spent nine years.
‘She was well thought of here by work colleagues and clients who had rung in their condolences to the company from other countries and had enjoyed her company,’ said Mrs Le Billon.
‘People were saying she was a beautiful person on the inside as well as outside. People need to be calm and understand that Sarah’s family are deeply hurt and healing needs to take place and they need to be left alone to grieve in private.’
Close family friend and self-employed carpenter Ozzy Ozanne, 34, lived a short distance away from the former couple’s country home.
‘They used to come round my house quite often and I worked with Sarah and Michael at Doyle Motors,’ he said.
‘She was a very genuine, nice person, very sweet. She was good fun and was interested in sand racing and autocross and used to come and watch.’
Many islanders have found it difficult coming to terms with the double shooting.
‘It was a complete surprise and I would never have expected it. It’s just a great loss for both families,’ said Mr Ozanne.
‘They were round our house having a Jacuzzi only a month before. They were both good friends of the family.
‘He was never a danger to the public and I never saw any aggression from either of them. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and it was the same for both of them. There were some of Michael’s family there ‘at the funeral’, which was nice to see.’
Child minder Alison Baudains, 38, said: ”Sarah’ was a lovely girl and she seemed quite quiet to me but really sweet. She used to come round home with his daughter. It’s so sad.’
Plumber Chris Bichard, 37, simply said: ‘She was a lovely, quiet girl.’
Shortly after 11.30am her coffin was carried from a hearse at the top of Rectory Hill by six ushers from Beckford’s Funeral Services Ltd.
Many floral tributes were laid outside the church. One depicted the entrance to the gates of heaven and had a picture of Sarah inside.
Another wreath read: ‘In loving memory of dearest Sarah - you will always be in my heart, love always…’
Another said: ‘Dear Auntie Sarah we will miss you always, lots of love…’
The coffin was carried outside the church at 12.22pm to take her to her final place of rest. Mrs Le Billon conducted a private internment.
After a welcome and opening prayer, the congregation sung the hymn Lord of All Hopefulness.
Mrs Falla’s godmother, Ruth Whitford, gave a reading from John 14.
Frankie Lihou played a cello solo called The Swan.
‘She played a piece that Sarah played when she was a teenager and won a cup at the Eisteddfod. Sarah’s cello teacher at the time, Eileen Ferbrache, accompanied Frankie,’ said Mrs Le Billon.
A poem was read by Craig Duquemin.
The hymn The Lord’s my Shepherd was sung before an address, prayers and the Lord’s Prayer.
A blessing followed the hymn, How Great Thou Art.
* The inquests of Mr Falla and his estranged wife were opened and adjourned last week to allow their bodies to be released for burial.
Article posted on 19th June, 2007 - 12.00am
Loading ...
Most Commented: