Bank employee dies two years after crash

Republic Bank employee Simone Uddenberg died at her Woodbrook home days after undergoing surgery for the removal of a steel pin placed in her leg following a car accident two years ago.

The 24-year-old, a customer services representative at Republic Bank’s Credit Card Centre, Chancery Lane, Port-of-Spain, died on Thursday. Simone, whose family is from St Kitts, sustained a broken leg in the accident and needed to have the pin removed after experiencing nagging pains in her leg. After the surgery was done, reports revealed that blood clotting arose which “travelled” to the lungs and brain resulting in difficulty in breathing.

Speaking with Sunday Newsday, Simone’s mother, Antoinette Uddenberg described her eldest daughter as a “live wire” and one who made others laugh. “She loved to clown around and tell jokes and maybe that was her way of masking her pain, because life hasn’t been easy for her (Simone),” said Uddenberg. “She was a child that when you gave her something to do, she got it done fast, she was really reliable and energetic. She had a big heart and was wonderful with children.”

Uddenberg recalled her daughter’s stay at the hospital following the car accident, where a birthday party had to be taken to her there. Simone, along with her two sisters Pauline and Candice, was a member of the Marionette’s Chorale for many years. Simone also loved writing poems and in her daughter’s remembrance, Uddenberg put together a few letters and poems from friends including one written by Simone entitled “While You Were Gone”. The poem opens with the words: “While you were gone nothing seemed to go just right/ Everything lost all hope, not even the dogs would put up a fight. While you were gone no one spoke or laughed at all/ It was a time for remembering, no one went to the mall.”

The funeral for Simone Uddenberg will take place on Wednesday, April 23 at St Patrick’s RC Church, Maraval Road. The service will be conducted by Fr Kennedy Swaratsingh, who according to Uddenberg “was the reason Simone and the girls wanted to go to church because of his (Swaratsingh’s) vibrant and lively service”.