KUALA LUMPUR: A downpour added to the pall over Brickfields as hundreds gathered to bid farewell to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 victims Paul Rajasingam Sivagnanam and Mabel Anthonysamy Soosai.

Many in the congregation were seen wiping away tears as the couple’s remains arrived at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima at about 10am yesterday.

There has been no news so far about the remains of their 10-year-old son Matthew Ezekial, who died with them when the jetliner was shot down over eastern Ukraine last month.

Father Clarence Das, who presided over the funeral mass, said the past weeks had been a very trying time for families of the victims and the nation.

He acknowledged the sense of loss suffered by the couple’s families but reminded them to hold fast to their faith that Paul, Mabel and Matthew were now with God.

Afterwards, the usual eulogy was replaced with a touching video depicting highlights in the family’s lives.

A moment of silence was also held as a mark of respect for all the victims of MH17 while three white doves were released as the couple’s remains were about to be taken to a crematorium in Cheras.

Mabel’s eldest brother Clement Anthonysamy Soosai, 47, said there has yet to be closure for the families because there was still no word on Matthew’s remains.

“There is some comfort but no closure yet because Matthew’s remains are not home. We want him to be with his family,” Clement said.

He said the couple’s ashes would be buried alongside the grave of Matthew’s twin brother who had died at birth.

Paul was a Shell employee while Mabel was a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

They and their son were flying home from a holiday when the plane was hit by a missile on July 17.

The remains of 23 of the 43 Malaysian victims have been brought home over the past few days from Amsterdam.

Bernama reported that the remains of at least six more Malaysians are expected to be released by tomorrow.

According to sources, the remains had been identified via DNA testing.