Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
The 92-year-old woman who lost her life trying to save her son from a house fire was hailed as a hero yesterday.
At the emotional send-off for Surujdai Soogrim and her 64-year-old son Boysie Sonnyboy in Penal, mourners were told her selfless action was a reflection of the dedicated and caring mother that she was.
Instead of saving her own life when the fire broke out at their New Grant home on December 10, Soogrim stayed in the house to try to rescue Sonnyboy, the eldest of her six children.
Pundit Dayanand Maharaj, who officiated at the funeral service at a relative’s home at Maraj Avenue, said the mother and son died in unfortunate and terrible circumstances.
“This lady, of course, is a hero. Think about what she did. Sometimes you see a fire lighting you don’t want to go near it . . . but she disregarded her own self and ran into that fire,” he said.
“She will remain a hero. You don’t have to look far for heroes. She went in there to save her son’s life. Unfortunately, they both perished.”
Maharaj encouraged the mourners to pray, live according to God’s instructions and give charity every day.
Soogrim’s grandson, Randy Beharry, described her as an immaculate woman and said she and his uncle could not do without each other and shared a lifelong bond.
He said this was evident when she chose to try to save his life instead of her own.
“As we bid them farewell today, one of the things that gives us all comfort is the knowledge that my grandmother and Boya will always be together. They were in life and now in going beyond,” Beharry said.
He said Soogrim was one of 13 siblings and endured struggles in her early years of marriage but that did not stop her from being a dedicated and loving mother. She worked in the coffee, cocoa and rice fields and orchards to provide for them.
Beharry said Soogrim was loved dearly by everyone who knew her.
“She was such a big-hearted person, she treated her siblings, children and neighbours equally.”
He said Sonnyboy became mentally handicapped following a medical mishap but had a happy life and was well-known and well-loved in his community.
Following the service, the mother and son were cremated at the Shore of Peace in South Oropouche.