Family of royal hoax nurse Jacintha Saldanha speak about their loss at Westminster service
The family of Jacintha Saldanha, the Bristol nurse found hanged days after answering a hoax call about the Duchess of Cambridge, have spoken publicly for the first time about their loss.
A Mass was held at Westminster Cathedral this morning and attended by Ms Saldanha's husband Benedict, daughter Lisha, 14 and son Junal, 16.
The BBC reports that in a joint tribute the children said: "We are shattered and there's an unfillable void in our lives."
"The house is an empty dwelling without your presence," they added.
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Mrs Saldanha's funeral will take place at Our Lady of Health Church in the town of Shirva in Karnataka, India, on Monday.
According to the BBC, in a tribute read out at the service, the children described their mother as "kind-hearted, generous and well-respected".
They said: "You were the core of the family that kept us together. In times of difficulty, you showed us the way forward to happiness and success.
"Your priority for us was a good education and a bright future. You taught us right from wrong which we appreciate. You worked tirelessly to give us everything that we have today."
Lisha read out a tribute after the service: "We love you Mum, sleep in peace and please watch over us until we meet again in Heaven. We will always love you and keep you close to our hearts."
Her husband, Benedict Barboza, said in his tribute: "My wife, you were the light in my darkness, who always showed me the way forward. From the day we met, you always stood by me in times of hardship and happiness. I feel a part of me has been ripped out.
"Without your beautiful smile and sparkling personality, the house is an empty place to live. Nineteen years of togetherness with a strong bond of affection and understanding will be cherished forever in my life. Your loss is a very painful one and nobody can take that place in my life ever again. I love you and miss you forever."
The 46-year-old mum-of-two, who lived in Southmead, was found hanged in her London apartment a week ago, three days after the call from Australian radio presenters pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles.
She transferred the call, at King Edward VII Hospital where she worked, to a colleague who gave information on the duchess' sickness condition.
A post-mortem examination took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, but it was not until an inquest was opened at Westminster Coroner's Court yesterday that the medical cause of death was confirmed publicly.
The inquest heard there were also marks on her wrist.
Emily Koch - Emily is a journalist living in Bristol, where she works as a digital publisher for Northcliffe Digital. She writes for ThisisBristol and was previously a senior reporter on The Post.
Comments
by ToryTillIDie
Saturday, December 15 2012, 11:57PM
“Asian? Have you been troubled by something that you didn't ask for and was not your fault? Could you do with a no win no fee politician that will do absolutely nothing except put you on newspaper covers for weeks?
Phone Keith Vaz on 0845 ...”
by bokbok
Saturday, December 15 2012, 5:55PM
“Milking this a bit now.”