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.