BY KEITH LACEY
Through a funeral ceremony with endless tears and immense sadness, Daphne Kochar was remembered by family and friends for her unforgettable laugh, kindness and dedication to her family and community.
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Pallbearers carry out Daphne Kochar's casket following her public funeral Saturday at Lougheed's Funeral Home. Photo by Keith Lacey |
A capacity crowd in excess of 400 gathered to say goodbye to the woman. Sudbury Police consider her death suspicious and it is under investigation. Kochar was reported missing Nov. 6. Her body was found near Burwash Dec. 27.
Greater Sudbury Police Sgt. Bob Keetch, the lead investigator in the Kochar case, was in attendance at Kochar's funeral. Also attending were Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci, Sudbury MP Diane Marleau and Greater Sudbury Mayor David Courtemanche.
"She had a laugh that filled the room every time she entered," said Kochar's sister Vinnie, during one of four eulogies given at the funeral Saturday at Lougheed Funeral Home. "When she laughed, everyone knew she was in the room."
Delhi Wale, Bhai Santokh and Singh Anand from a Toronto-based Sikh organization, played traditional Sikh music and spoke numerous prayers as part of the funeral ceremony.
Kochar's eldest daughter, Jasmine, 16, then gave a memorable and touching eulogy, describing her mother's passion for life and helping others.
Tears were falling down the faces of hundreds in attendance as Jasmine provided touching memories of her mother and the influence she had on her life and the lives of other people.
"She was magic...she could heal all illness with a Kit Kat (chocolate bar)," Jasmine said smiling. "She was the closest thing to a role model I could find and I always admired her in so many ways."
She was a wonderful caring mother and wife who committed her free time to helping numerous community causes and she was actively involved in the East Indian community in Greater Sudbury, she said.
"I'm old enough to drive a car and next year I will graduate from high school, but I'm not old enough to live without my mother," she said sobbing. "She loved me more than I could ever have asked for."
Dressed in traditional East Indian clothing, Jasmine hugged visitors who gathered to say goodbye, while her father, Dr. Harinder Kochar, stood by his wife's casket and acknowledged all visitors with a traditional prayer salute.
Kochar's 13-year-old twin daughters Simran and Haruna also greeted visitors, but did not participate in the funeral ceremony.
After the public funeral, members of the family attended a private cremation ceremony at Parklawn Cemetery.
