Leaders pay respects to late Pa’u Sefo

By Adel Fruean 24 January 2019, 12:00AM

The state funeral service for the Member of Parliament for Fa’asaleleaga No. II, Pa’u Sefo Pa’u, was held at the Sefo Pa’u Crematorium at Tafa’igata yesterday.

Among the guests was the Head of State, His Highness, Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II, Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Former Head of State, His Highness, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, heads of government ministries, families and friends of the deceased. 

Various pastors conducted the service and among them were Father Tuli Pa’u, Father Petelo Vito Pa’u, Deacon Maselino Alefosio Pa’u, and Father Spa Silva.

The late Member of Parliament of Faasaleleaga No. II was the son of Faavaivai Te’o and Kalala Pa’u. 

The wife of the late Member of Parliament, Ana Esera Pa’u, spoke on behalf of their family at the solemn ceremony. 

She said the late Member was a father of 13 children and 30 grandkids and described him as a “fighter”, despite his challenges in life.  

“He had a heart to keep on fighting despite the challenges that life threw at him, and he would always challenge his kids by telling his life story of how he first started as a business person at a young age selling Samoan tobacco.

“He used to sell Samoan tobacco at Savai’i, he used to sell these in Safotulafai but his mother worked at the Moto’otua Hospital in Upolu. 

“One day my husband advised me to stay and help grow our business and let our children be the degree holders whereas I will be signing cheque after cheque – but along the way our children would come back saying the cheques bounced,” Ana said. 

She said the late Member of Parliament will be remembered by his family for his service to them. 

“His family would always remember him for his never-ending service to them through family commitments like funerals. 

“His heart that cared so much for those in need, even though we had so many bills to pay, he would say show some love to these people. But for his kids he was a strict and hard person to please,” she added. 

The Prime Minister, who spoke on behalf of the Government, described Pa’u as a “general” and indicated that he passed on before he turned 66 due to pneumonia.

“He was a business man that developed business – not only to support his family – but also the many workers and that was his contribution to the development of our country,” Tuilaepa said.

The Prime Minister said “small is beautiful”, in that it is important to come from humble beginnings and along the way gain knowledge.

“But so many start with millions and then later end up bankrupt, we were fortunate to visit his when he was still with us. 

“On my second visit on 11:30am on Saturday because I was informed by the Minister that he was regaining his strength, and so I arrived with my small envelope that had a note inside saying ‘Pa’u there is no general that passes away peacefully instead get out of your bed and come out alive.

“Sadly I was informed that he passed on at 7am in the morning and with that we bid farewell to a fellow comrade on his journey,” added Tuilaepa.

By Adel Fruean 24 January 2019, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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