KUALA LUMPUR: During the last family gathering she attended, the late Malaysia Airlines stewardess Norzana Hanim Hamzah insisted on hugging her mother for as long as she could.
Norzana's younger sister Norzarita Hanum, 46, said her elder sister felt that she would not have such a chance to hug their mother after that event.
Norzana, 49, died on Monday during a layover in Tokyo.
Norzarita said the family gathered on May 16 and Norzana was very enthusiastic about taking photographs with her family.
"Last Thursday, she was supposed to bring our mother to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, but that did not happen because our mother was sick. Instead, my sister decided to spend time with the family at home.
"My sister told us to take good care of our mother when if she was no longer around. She also wanted to take photos and joked about them being her last photos with us. I can't believe that turned out to be true.
"Before she went home, she gave some money to our mother. She was always very generous and concerned about our mother. Now, she is no longer with us," Norzarita told Harian Metro.
She said Norzana did not suffer from any illness. She said her elder sister only admitted that she was feeling rather tired in her last text message to her family.
"I suppose it was due to her packed schedule. Perhaps that message represented how she and her entire crew mates felt that day."
She said Norzana also prioritised her family.
"She was a cheerful and positive person who never spoke ill of other people."
Norzana was laid to rest at the Kampung Melaka Muslim cemetery in Hulu Langat at 11am yesterday (Friday).
Her remains had arrived in Malaysia on Thursday and was transported to her family's home in Batu 9. Cheras. Funeral prayers were also held at the home.
Norzana died on Monday in her room while on a layover in Tokyo. Malaysia Airlines had said that she was in the Japanese capital after completing a flight to Narita International Airport.
She had been scheduled to work on a return flight to Kuala Lumpur on the same day.