Sombre bells tolled and petards echoed through Marsaxlokk yesterday morning as a dark-suited crowd gathered at the village's parish church to bid farewell to 61-year-old Carmelo Bugeja, one of the three fishermen who died in the Simshar tragedy.
His grieving wife, Carmena, soaked up her tears with a white handkerchief as she followed her husband's coffin into the church accompanied by relatives including her son Marvin and daughter Sylvia.
Her other son Simon, the captain of the Simshar and the only survivor, was unable to attend as he is still recovering at Mater Dei Hospital.
Simon's son, 11-year-old Theo, is the only member aboard the Simshar who is still unaccounted for.
Relatives, friends, fishermen and dignitaries - including Acting President George Hyzler and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi - flocked into the church that was decorated in red damask in preparation for the village feast of Our Lady of Pompei, this weekend.
Barely 24 hours after the funeral of 33-year-old Noel Carabott, who was also on the ill-fated shipping vessel, his wife Stephania also turned up to pay her respects to Mr Bugeja and comfort his family.
Addressing the mourners, Fr Godfrey Zarb described Mr Bugeja as a man who had faith in God, adding that his death was not the end but the beginning of his eternal life in heaven.
Some may question why God allows such tragedies to happen. One need not fear death, a path that everyone is destined to follow. When the moment comes, God will be there with us, Fr Zarb said. Mr Bugeja had faith till the end and one can only hope to share that faith when the moment came.
The third victim of the tragedy, Somali crewman Abdulrahman Abdalla Gedi, 21, is expected to be buried today. The Simshar had set out on a fishing trip on July 7 and was expected back by July 11. Concerned relatives reported the vessel overdue the following day when the searches started.
The following week the corpses of Mr Carabott, Mr Bugeja and Mr Gedi were found and Simon was rescued by a fishing boat.
He told rescuers that the Simshar sank following an explosion and that his son had died in his arms but eventually he lost his grip and the boy drifted away.
The search for Theo was called off earlier this week.