Fiatau Pulusi, who was considered a stalwart of the Assembly of God Church of Samoa community, was one of the 386 people who caught the virus as part of the Māngere church cluster. He died in Middlemore Hospital on October 6.
His wife Tagi Pulusi also has COVID-19 and is currently in ICU. Although she was unable to attend Fiatau's funeral, she had a message from her hospital bed.
"I miss you, going to miss you every day. I love you, I love you so much."
