Murdered wife laid to rest with celebration

It wasn’t the usual solemn funeral service when hundreds of mourners turned up yesterday at the St Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church, Penal, to say farewell to murder victim, Gillian Rajpaul. Instead of mournful hymns and tearful eulogies, the church was filled with joyful music and positive words of encouragement, in keeping with the way Gillian lived her life.

The mood was deliberately kept upbeat, according to Rajpaul’s family, to celebrate her love for life and her overwhelming talents. An interior decorator, artist, counsellor and voice trainer, Gillian was described by one of her cousins as a “multi-talented” person. Her paintings and banners produced for the Lenten season lined the walls of the church. Her greatest dream — to have the Genesis Chorale sing at the church — was fulfilled as the group serenaded her in death. Gillian Rajpaul was chopped to death on Tuesday morning by her husband, Glen, who set their house on fire then hanged himself inside the burning building. Rev Vishnu Dass described Gillian as a “heaven sent angel” who was a hardworking follower of her faith. He told mourners that Gillian’s “troubles and pain are now over”.

Fr Rudy Mohammed, who had been attached to the St Dominic’s RC Church for approximately one year, and who counselled Gillian and her husband, described her as “faithful wife and a loving mother”. He said she was concerned that people did not like her and that she felt “rejected by her own people”. Fr Mohammed said all the “ugly” things that were being said about her were untrue, advising that he had come to know her and that she was a “very nice” person. The priest lamented that when someone begins to excel, there are many who try to “bring you down”, suggesting that may have been one of the reasons why Gillian may have felt she was being rejected by her peers.

Prior to yesterday’s service at the RC church, there was another ceremony for Gillian at her family’s home at Penal Rock Road. There too, hundreds of mourners turned out to say farewell, and were advised by the family’s priest to “have faith in the Lord”. He advised them to “never give up hope”, adding that the Lord was watching over Gillian’s soul until she is ready to be re-born. Gillian was buried at the Penal Rock Road Cemetery.