Friends, family and colleagues spilled out of the family home onto the streets of Bamboo Settlement No. 1 this afternoon as they gathered to say goodbye to well-loved and respected journalist Sandra Chouthi.
The funeral was a sad affair, with relatives crying out and tears rolling silently down the cheeks of friends and colleagues as numerous tributes were read and Hindu bhajans were sung.
Veteran journalists, media managers and Government ministers paid their respects and flowers were offered to her body.
Chouthi diedon Mondayat the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, after living with cancer for some time.
The funeral rites were held at Chouthi's family home, after which she was cremated at the Caroni site.
Chouthi's life was remembered in the context of her professional and personal integrity and her devotion to her career as a journalist. She was described as fiercely independent and private by her brother Premnath as he eulogised her.
Chouthi began her love of journalism at age 13, when she submittedpublic opinion articles to the newspaper.Premnath said it was those same articles that got her her first job as a journalist.
He described his sister as a woman of integrity who never twisted a story and advised young reporters to look to her as an example.
"Outside of work she was a caring, honest, stubborn, passionate, independent woman.
"There was no one in her life who could bribe her. Her honesty was unparalleled."
But beneath Chouthi's infectious smile and caring and fun-loving personality, Premnath said there was "a sleeping tiger" who was fiercely protective of herself and her family.
Chouthi was first diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and was treated until the disease went into remission.The cancer returned late last year.
She received several tributes from colleagues and past employers such as Guardian Editor Irving Ward, Express Editor-In-Chief Omatie Lyder, former Express managing director Ken Gordon.Ward cried as he described the journalist as selfless.
"She was always willing to listen, to hear, or to give advice," he said.
Lyder read tributes from several of Chouthi's past colleagues and said Chouthi's integrity had never been questioned.
Communications Minister Vasant Bharath and Environment?Minister Ganga Singh also gave brief remarks at Chouthi's funeral.
Premnath said his family had no idea that Chouthi had been loved by so many people, a possible testament of his sister's humility and simple life.