Maprik Town came to a standstill on September 27th as they paid their last respect to one of the longest serving teachers in the District.
The late Mariana Sino Tangura, who served the district as a teacher for more than 30 years, was given a fitting funeral procession with police escort and the presence of prominent figures of the district development authority, including Town Mayor Paul Dingu and the East Sepik Division of Education.
The funeral procession saw students in all schools in the Maprik Town welcome the long service teacher at the Admin Primary School where the 52-year-old deputy head teacher had been recently posted until her passing.
The late Tangura's body was escorted to the school grounds and then to the Maprik AOG Church where the funeral service was held.
It was there that her body was officially handed over to her immediate family members.
The hand-over was signified through the folding and handing-over of the Papua New Guinea flag by the representative of the ESP Division of Education.
Speaking at the Funeral Service, DDA CEO Joshua Himina shared his condolences and noted that the late Mrs Tangura has left a legacy, adding that many of the students she had taught have become some great names and more have made their mark in different aspects of life.
He said teaching is a very noble profession that molds the lives of all generations and it was only fitting that this great teacher was given a state funeral.
To many, this great woman was a teacher, but to her colleagues and community, the 52-year-old had become a mother figure and a mentor to her younger colleagues.
While shedding tears, many of the younger teachers shared their pain stating that she had led many of them through life itself and encouraged and guided them not only professionally but also in their family lives.
The late Mariana Sino Tangura had been hospitalised for more than 3 weeks before succumbing to her illness at the Boram General Hospital in Wewak, East Sepik Province.
She left behind a daughter, two sons and a daughter-in-law.