MANILA, Jan. 21, 2015 — The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) expressed grief over the death of their staff, 27-year-old Lristel Padasas of Manila.
CRS Country Director Joe Curry, in a text message to CBCPNews said the late employee was “such a wonderful woman and sadly missed by everyone” who knew her.
In a statement uploaded on the CRS website, they confirmed Padasas passed away on Saturday, Jan. 17 when she was struck by a scaffold at the site of the papal Mass in Tacloban shortly after Pope Francis left for Palo.
“Her dedication to the people affected by the typhoon extended beyond her official work with CRS,” says the statement. CRS said Kristel “traveled a great distance to volunteer during last Saturday’s papal Mass and to remember the victims of typhoon Haiyan.”
CRS Philippines also mourns her loss along with her family, friends and loved ones.
Padasas, who was based in Samar and worked on a recovery project for typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) survivors, is remembered as “someone who loved to laugh and who was always ready to assist outside her normal duties.”
The same statement revealed the young woman “found great joy in being able to contribute to the recovery effort by working directly with communities and families.”
Padasas’ remains have been brought to Manila and now lie in state at their residence in Taguig City. She finished B. S. in Psychology in 2008 at Adamson University in Manila. (Melo M. Acuña/CBCPNews)
