Astra died from heart, lung ailmentsBy Darcel Choy Wednesday, October 21 2009
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PM pays respect: Prime Minister Patrick Manning pays his respect to Ample Advertising chairman Astra Da Costa before her funeral service at St Finbar'...
Alfred Aguiton, business partner of chairman of Ample Advertising Co Ltd Astra Da Costa, yesterday declared she did not die from swine flu.
During the funeral service for Da Costa at St Finbar’s RC Church, Diego Martin, Aguiton recalled Da Costa’s final moments at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, last Thursday.
“She had already had three episodes of cardiac arrests, the doctors in charge said that her lungs were in an awful state of pulmonary fibrosis (thickening of the lungs),” he said.
He added that while the ventilator was attached to her lungs she was dignified and composed.
“When we went back to see her, her eyes were closed, she looked at peace. You could feel a state of grace around her and we said the Lord’s prayer to help her through her journey. We knew she had served her purpose and she has left us her responsibility to honour what she lived for and what she died doing,” he said.
Da Costa’s sister Anndra said the word that best described Da Costa was “family”.
“That family was our immediate family, but her family extended beyond the bloodline, it extended to her family at the Rotary (Club) and Ample. Another aspect of her family extended to her cultural commitment which culminated having the portfolio of chairman of Queen’s Hall, she was a patriot from school days, Trini to the bone,” Anndra said. She shared that persons should follow the example Da Costa left which was to get involved in family and community.
In his homily, Vicar General Msgr Christian Pereira said Da Costa had a profound belief in herself and those with whom and for whom she worked.
“There is a fundamental absence of faith among our people. As it seems more and more that no one really believes in us, but today our celebration of life of Astra should turn the switch on for everyone of us and walk out of this church and find the courage to believe in ourselves and to know with whom and for whom we work are noble and great,” he said. In attendance were Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his wife Local Government Minister Hazel Manning, senators, rotary members and many others.
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