Mumbai: Mortal Remains of Wing Commander Darryl Castelino Laid to Rest with State Honor
Report by Robert D Costa
Pics by Rons Bantwal
Bellevision Media Network
Mumbai, 30 Jun 2013: The funeral of Wing Commander Darryl Castelino of Indian Air Force (IAF), who died in a air crash at Gowrikund – Kedarinat, while rescuing the stranded people owing to mighty floods that caused havoc recently in Uttarkhand, northern India, at St Antony’s parish, Vakola, Santacruz (East) here on Sunday June 30 at 3.00pm.
The mortal remains of Darryl brought to his home in Diamond Park, Vakola, Santacruz (East0 here by IAF top officers on Sunday afternoon and placed for public homage. Thousands of people arrived to pay homage to the departed Darryl, while the entire Diamond Park complex was cordoned off by security men and IAF personnel. They let only relatives of Darryl into his home.
Vakola parish priest Fr Siraj Pinto arrived at Darryl’s home and performed the funeral rites and prepared for onward journey to the parish to offer funeral Mass and enable the burial at the cemetery.
Darryl’s mother Leena Castelino (hailing from Kinnigoli, Mangalore), Darryl’s wife Jyoti, son Ethan and daughter Angelina Castelino, sisters Cheryl and Meryl, mother-in-law Jacinta Olivera, father-in-law Clement Olivera, Rony Olivera Padukone, Walter Buthello, Francis Olivera, and hundreds of family members offered homage to dear Darryl at the occasion.
The wailing reached the skies when the mortal remains of Darryl lifted from his house, in the midst of his family members and friends, well wishers.
The top IAF officers offered state honor before lowering the mortal remains of Darryl into the decorated IAF automobile.
BJP leader MLA Gopal C Shetty, Vinod Tawde, Asish Shelar, Vasant Kshirasagar, Billawar Association – Mumbai president L V Amin, and other dignitaries offered homage at the occasion.
It was indeed a heart-rending scene to witness thousands of people in the neighbourhood to mourn the brave Indian pilot who laid his life in rescuing the people in peril. It ignited the great patriotic spirit among the people gathered to bid adieu to their hero.
As the funeral procession reached Datta Mandir roundabout, IAF and Indian Navy (IA) offered guard of honor and proceeded to Vakola parish. No sooner the motorcade reached the parish premises; it rained heavily as the God was pleased with the sacrifice of brave heart.
The faithful attended the funeral Mass outside the parish compound braving the rains, because the church was jam packed.
The mortal remains of brave heart Darryl were laid to rest amidst tight-security at Our Lady of Egypt parish cemetery, Kalina, Santacruz (East) here, as per the wish of Darryl’s family. Darryl was a keen church-goer involved in parish activities though out his life.
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| Melody Vaughn, U.S.A | Tue, July-2-2013, 6:56 |
| DARRYL CASTELINO MAY YOU DWELL IN THE HOUSE THE LORD,AS YOU CARRIED YOURSELF THROUGH LIFE,YOU A HERO,ALWAYS A PRAYER AND THEN A SOLDIER,GOD NEEDS HERO S LIKE YOU,YOU SHALL REST IN THE SAFEST PLACE,WRAPPED WITH GOD AND HIS ARCH ANGELS,GOD IS COMFORTING YOU,HE KNOWS YOU WELL,FOR HE HAS CHOSEN YOU,YOU ARE THE GUARDIAN,THEN YOU WILL BE IN THE HANDS OF GOD HIMSELF,YOU AS IN LIFE,WILL AGAIN BE A SOLDIER FOR GOD,YOU SHALL BE BY GODS SIDE TO A PROTECTOR GUIDE AND FIGHT,IF NEED BE TO PROTECT THE HIGHEST OF ALL,GOD NEEDED A SOLDIER AND HE CHOSE YOU,A SON,A FATHER,A HUSBAND,MOST OF ALL A VERY BRAVE AND LOVED SOLDIER,WHO SACRIFICED ALL,A SELFLESS ACT,SAVING PEOPLE EVEN THOUGH YOU NEW EVERYTHING,WAS GOING TO BE CHANGE,YOU RECEIVED THE CALL FROM ABOVE THEN ESCORTED TO THE HOUSE OF GOD BY HIS ARCH ANGELS"SOLDIERS" AND PROTECTORS TO GUIDED YOU TO THE VALLEY,GOD WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE DARK VALLEY,TO YOUR NEW HOME,TO SAVE THE GREAT PEOPLE OF YOUR COUNTRY,ESPECIALLY FAMILY IS GRIEVING,SO IS THE "IAF" "IA" AND THE WHOLE NATION OF YOUR NATIVE PLACE,THEY HAVE MUCH SORROW IN THEIR HEARTS AND SOUL,THEIR VERY BEING WILL BE TESTED WITH YOU NOT THEIR,THEY WILL HEAL,A HERO SEND OFF YOU DESERVE,BLESSED BE | |
| Mukund Bhat, Katapadi , Udupi | Mon, July-1-2013, 8:10 |
| My Standing Salute for DARRYL CASTELINO MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE - Your family should be PROUD of you , We all PROUD of you. I am In Kenya and we all love you TOO. GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY | |
| Philip Mudartha, Diamond Park, Vakola | Mon, July-1-2013, 6:23 |
| Life must go on. At Diamond Park, four men are dismantling the make-shift canopy erected to receive VIPs and other mourners. They are gone and with them the media and their cams. Only plastic packs of mineral water remain, strewn around. A lone rose floats in a poodle of rainwater, left to wither away. The Bolero SUV of local police drives by, without even a glance at yesterday s fallen hero staring down at the street from the banner. Twelve hours after witnessing a fitting funeral ceremony with state honors attended by VIPs, a posse of military personnel, and watched over by hundreds of state policemen to hold back curious onlookers, I am left with this black feeling: finally, the family in private will have to come to terms with their loss and move on. They will have to forget the high sounding speeches from patriotic and religious pulpits. The national fervor ignited is a myth of media TRP. They will have to pick up pieces of their ruined lives and make a new beginning to keep the promises which the widow made publicly. She promised to look after their kids as he did till they meet again. I pray that the nation and IAF help her keep the promise. | |
| lakshmichidanad Acharya, Mangalore/Moodushedde | Mon, July-1-2013, 5:47 |
| Hats of Real Hero may your soul rest in eternal peace. we are all missing u. | |
| Benedict Noronha, Udupi | Sun, June-30-2013, 10:03 |
| A Brave and daring personality fought against the calamity to save people in storms. God must be pleased with him as He loved him so much,He wanted Him to be in Heaven, very close to HIM. He is an example for youngsters to involve in rescue operations to save others. May his Soul Rest in Peace. May his tribe increase. | |
| Evans Christopher Sumitra, Udupi/New York, USA | Sun, June-30-2013, 12:23 |
| DARRYL CASTELINO MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE. May God give all the comfort to his wife, children and the entire bereaved family and friends at this time. You are our hero who gave your precious life to our country at this young age. The pictures and coverage by Rons Bantwal was very touching and still lingers in our mind. God Bless to one and all. | |
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