Editorial: Family's sad loss shared by all of us

Yesterday two young men helped carry their mother's coffin into the Havelock North Community Centre where friends and family had gathered to say goodbye.

Gail Bower, 48, was found dead at her Havelock North home with multiple stab wounds last Friday night.

The family, including Ms Bower's elderly father, spoke to Hawke's Bay Today reporters Amy Shanks and Anna Ferrick about the much-loved mother, daughter, friend and colleague.

The family members were happy for Amy and a Hawke's Bay Today photographer to attend the funeral.

Both reporters handled the very public incident in a sensitive and caring manner.

The family members said they were glad Amy had called on them rather than just phoned and that they would like to have a record of the funeral.

It's not easy for reporters in cases like this.

On the one hand they know the family is in total shock but they also know they have a job to do.

Calling on people in situations like this can be harrowing for them.

They are not there to make people feel bad and they try their very best to be unobtrusive.

Amy's story in today's paper is a tribute to a woman taken too soon from this world.

We hope it's something the family can look back on in years to come and remember the people who shared this very sad day with them.

We at Hawke's Bay Today wish them well in this difficult time.