A CORRESPONDENT
BORDUMSA: Kopnem Mossang (63), the eldest sister of Arunachal Cabinet Minister Kamlung Mossang, was accorded warm condolence at a massive gathering at her native village Newton -- the easternmost hamlet of Arunachal Pradesh at Kharsang in Changlang district -- on Sunday.
A pall of gloom descended in the entire region following the sudden demise of Kopnem Mossang on Saturday evening. She was undergoing treatment for the past one week at a private nursing home in Dibrugarh.
Often considered as "the ideal lady of the village" for her serene, religious, virtuous and compassionate lifestyle, Kopnem Mossang was popular among the rural folks for her simplicity, pious nature and benevolence. She committed herself for serving the needy section of the society on various fronts.
The funeral marked the attendance of hundreds of people from various walks of life including relatives, and well wishers from various nearby districts.
"The virtues and greatness in the lady was evident from the fact that though not adequately educated, she took all the care for the proper upbringing of her five brothers and four sisters. She remained a constant and motivating factor for her siblings to lead a simple, religious and generous life," said one of the members of the bereaved family. "Her brothers -- Minister Kamlung Mossang, and Bordumsa MLA Samlung Mossang -- can better define the motherly role of their deceased sister who supported them throughout their young days," added the relative.
The last journey of the ideal lady was marked with the offerings of floral tributes and prayers at the village home and prayers at the church was conducted by Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao Diosis along with several clergymen including Father Felex Anthony.
Among the grief-stricken relatives, Gabriel Denwang Wansgu -- the MLA of 58 Kanubari Assembly Constituency -- also expressed his condolence and termed the loss as "irreparable for all of us ".
One of the brothers Samlung Mossang regretting the loss of the inspiring sister said, "She was the architect in our family who built a strong literary foundation during our early years upon which the entire seven brothers and sisters have been reaping the harvest today leading a life with our heads held high in society ."
The deceased Mossang has been survived by her husband Kamtang Mossang and four highly qualified and established daughters -- Nanang Mossang, Lemnang Mossang, Meynang Mossang, Nangtim Mossang -- and son Thoitang Mossang, who is pursuing his Masters degree.