T

he Rompas extended family in Palu, Central Sulawesi, mourned as they learned that Suzanna Famella Rompas, 23, was among the victims of the crashed Sukhoi Superjet 100 plane, the wreckage of which was found on the slopes of Mt. Salak near Bogor, West Java, on Thursday.

Suzanna’s aunt, Vera Mastura Rompas, said she initially did not think that the Suzanna listed on the passenger list was her niece as it was written as Suzanna Vamella and not Suzanna Famella.

“I felt very weak and unable to move my when I realized it was my niece. I was so shocked,” Vera said through her tears.

Suzanna was named Central Sulawesi Miss Tourism in 2009 and was appointed to represent the province at the Putri Indonesia beauty pageant in the same year.

Rein Bachtiar of the Indonesian Model Supervisory Foundation (Yapmi) said Suzanna previously lived in Bunta district, Banggai regency, Central Sulawesi. She moved to Palu in 2009 for the province’s Miss Tourism contest.

Suzanna was known not only for her beauty but also her brains. “That’s why we were all fond of her,” said Syauki Maskati, a friend of Suzanna.

Syauki said the last time she spoke to Suzanna on the phone was about a month ago, just to say hello and gossip. “She talked about her work as a stewardess and I told her about my job as a civil servant. Then we said our goodbyes,” Syauki said.

In Yogyakarta, the relatives of Femi Adiningsih, 32, another victim of the crash, could only pray and hope for a miracle that she had somehow survived the accident.

“We have not yet received any firm information but the news is reporting that everyone aboard was killed in the crash. We can do nothing,” Femi’s aunt, Sutari Maria, said at her residence in Bumijo Tengah, Yogyakarta.

Femi, who had lived next door to Sutari since her childhood and until she finished her studies at Yogyakarta’s Atma Jaya University, was a Bloomberg journalist.

Both her parents had passed away and she only had her elder sister Esti Rahayu who lives in Jakarta. Sutari said the last time Femi went home to Bumijo was in September 2011 to celebrate her sister’s wedding. “We never thought something like this would happen,” Sutari said.

Among friends Femi was known as a friendly tomboy who liked photography.

“Her book collection is still kept neatly in her room. Her sister has the key,” said Sutari, adding that she was discussing with Esti Rahayu regarding whether Femi would be buried in Yogyakarta or in Jakarta.