KUCHING, April 25: A solemn and sombre atmosphere enveloped the Christian cemetery in Kampung Engkaroh Tebakang, Serian as over 500 people paid their last respects to Senior Seaman JJM Joanna Felicia Rohna, today.
The late Joanna was given final military honors and was buried at around 11:20 AM.
The burial ceremony was led by Pastor Andrew Ganya from the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Sarawak.
Also present to pay their last respects were Serian Member of Parliament, Datuk Richard Riot, and the First Infantry Division commander Major General Datuk Mohamed Fauzi Kamis.
She is survived by two young children: Allesia Felice and Hovannes, aged four and one, respectively.
Earlier, the body of the deceased arrived at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) Kuching Air Base on Wednesday night.
The TUDM C-130 aircraft transporting Joanna’s remains from Ipoh, Perak, touched down at the TUDM Kuching Air Base precisely at 11:54 PM, followed by a solemn journey to Kampung Engkaroh Tebakang, where it arrived at approximately 2:08 AM.
On Tuesday at 9:32 am, tragedy struck during a rehearsal for a flypast commemorating the 90th RMN Anniversary.
The incident involved the Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM-AW139) and a Fennec aircraft (M502-6).
Joanna was one of the three women killed in the crash on Tuesday (April 23), which also claimed the lives of seven other Navy personnel. – TVS
