Shortly after 7 pm, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong (centre) arrived at the wake, accompanied by his wife. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
SCORES of strangers streamed steadily into the white air-conditioned marquee at the foot of the Teresa Ville block, where slain Singaporean lawyer Ms Lo Hwei Yen laid to pay their last respects to her on Monday.
Many did not know her personally but felt compelled to offer a word of comfort and support to her grieving family.
Ms Lo, 28, was taken hostage by terrorists at Mumbai's Oberoi Trident hotel late last Wednesday. Her body was found on the 17th floor two days later.
Her husband Michael Puhaindran, 37, also a lawyer, brought her body back to Singapore on Sunday morning.
Fransciscan nun, Sister Carmen, 54, who was among those who turned up on Wednesday morning, said she will be offering a mass intention for Ms Lo at her church.
'I feel the need to do something for the family. It is my way of showing solidarity,' she said.
Also offering his words of comfort was the head of the Catholic Church here, Archbishop Nicholas Chia. He was there at 10.30 am but declined to speak to the media.
Others include housewife Hannah Ng, 55, and retired cop Henry Thomas, 70, both from Jurong.
'I was very sad and touched when I read the reports, especially when I saw what her husband wrote in the obituary. I had to come down and see the family,' Mr Thomas said.
Also offering words of comfort was actor Pierre Png.
Mr Png, who turned up in grey pants and light grey teeshirt, said he did not know Ms Lo, her husband or her family, but felt the need to attend the wake after reading about her horrific death in the papers.
He stayed for over an hour, speaking in low tones with both Mr Puhaindran and Ms Lo's father, Mr Lo Ping Yiu.
Even Ms Catherine Tiew, corporate sales manager of the travel agency that arranged Ms Lo?s business trips turned up.
'We didn't know her personally but read so much about her in the news. Our hearts went out to her and her family,' she said.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean spent about 20 minutes at the wake, arriving at 5.50 pm. He spoke with the family.
Speaking to reporters later, Mr Teo said: 'I think we all feel sad for the family and we hope in this time of sorrow, they can find some consolation.'
Shortly after 7 pm, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong arrived at the wake. Ms Lo's father-in-law, Mr Stanley Puhaindran, has been a long-time grassroots leader in Mr Goh's Marine Parade constituency.
Two bus loads of grassroots members also came to pay their last respects to Ms Lo.
The wake is held inside an air-conditioned white marquee, lined with more than 30 beautiful displays of white orchids, spider chrysanthenums and brassicas lining the entranc 30 that would keep them away from mosquitos buzzing outside.
Jazz music - Ms Lo's favourite - played softly inside the tent.
Close friends of Ms Lo turned up in black party dresses; they had been informed via Facebook to come in their glamorous best.
'Yen loves glamour. She is the glamour of every party. 'This is the last one we are having with her. And we want it to be a beautiful one - the way she would have wanted,' the Facebook message stated.
Ms Lo was held hostage last Wednesday night in the five-star Mumbai hotel she had checked into mere hours before.
She had just delivering a speech at the seminar, and was having dinner with friends when armed terrorists barged into the hotel.
The funeral service will be held at the Church of St Teresa on Thursday and Ms Lo will be cremated later at Mandai Crematorium.
As a mark of respect, the Singapore office of UK law firm Stephenson Harwood, where Ms Lo worked, will be closed on Thursday.
