By Shikin Louis
SERIAN, April 28: Rohna Tumbo, mother of the late navy senior officer Joanna Felicia Rohna, expressed her profound sorrow and longing for her daughter who died in the recent Lumut helicopter tragedy.
She said although Joanna had started her own family and lived in Perak, the latter always kept in touch with her family back home in Sarawak through phone and video calls.
“She (Joanna) always called during night time. It’s only when she’s busy that she would not be able to call.
“She and I always exchanged text messages through WhatsApp. However, when it came to her grandmother and her younger siblings, she would video call them to ask about their day and so on.
“However, there will be no more video calls from her since she has left us,” she said when met at the residence of Joanna’s husband Haslie Ali in Kampung Engkeroh near Tebakang here today.
Rohna and her husband Francis Penny were among those present during Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s visit to pay respects and comfort Joanna’s family.
As the media present conveyed condolences to Rohna, she emphasised that she would remain strong as she believed that mourning and grieving would upset the late Joanna who will be looking down on her family from heaven.
She also said her family is holding a nine-day prayer ceremony to commemorate her late daughter at their home in Kampung Sumpas Tampek at Mile 11, Serian.
At the same time, Rohna described Joanna as a very kind-hearted person who liked to help people in need.
“She was very kind. If there were people encountering problems, she always lent her help.
“She was also very loving not only to her children but also her siblings and grandparents,” she added.
Joanna, 26, was among 10 Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) officers and members who died when two helicopters collided at the TLDM Lumut Base in Perak on April 23.
She leaves behind her husband, Haslie Ali, and two children namely Allesia Felice Haslie, 4, and one-year-old Hovannes Haslie. — DayakDaily
