‘Always kind, giving’ – loved ones remember MV Barima victim Rona Mendonca

Rona Mendonca, a 40-year-old mother of three, was laid to rest on Friday. She was among those who perished when the MV Barima sank on July 18.

A viewing ceremony was held at her Herstelling, East Bank Demerara residence, where she had lived for close to a decade. Burial will take place at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

She is survived by her three children, Jason, Joel and Jonelle.

Rona and her family hail from Imbotero, Region One. Her brother, Noel Mendonca said she was one of eight siblings.

She was remembered by loved ones as a mother who “put her children first.” According to her brother, she carried much of that responsibility alone.

Rona started a small business selling from a shop at her Herstelling residence before she began traveling back and forth to Aruka Mouth, a small riverine community in the Mabaruma sub-district of Barima-Waini, Region One, to do business. She sold clothes in the region.

“She lived here for a long time, close to ten years now,” her brother said.

On the ill-fated night, she was traveling to sell and visit her mother.

Her brother said Rona had been planning to relocate permanently to Aruka Mouth, where their mother lives. She was in the process of building a house there and made frequent trips to check on its progress while continuing to sell clothing in the area.

Neighbours described her as kind and always willing to help, someone who did everything she could to make her children happy.