By Matters India Reporter

Panaji, Feb 13, 2020: The funeral of Wendell Rodricks, an ace fashion designer who tried LGBTQ community close to the Church, was held on February 13 at his ancestral village of Colvale in North Goa.

Rodricks, an environmental and gay rights champion, was ailing for some time. He died at 5 pm on February 12 at his home.

His family kept the funeral a low key affair. They put up a sign outside his residence that said, ‘Let Wendell rest in peace. No visitors please.’

A family member said they had decided that the funeral at Colvale church would be open to all, but no condolences would be accepted at home. “We have only one request now. Respect our privacy. We are mourning,” said the family member.

According to a family friend, Rodricks’ condition had “weakened” February 11 evening, but he had decided he didn’t want to be moved to a hospital. The family didn’t want to speak on his condition, though villagers said he had been “visibly ill” for a while.

People in Goa and outside have mourned his death.

“Deeply shocked to hear about the passing away of acclaimed fashion designer Padmashri Wendell Rodricks. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace,” tweeted Digambar Kamat, leader of opposition in the Goa legislative assembly.

Rodricks had handed over his designing label to his protege Schulen Fernandes a few years ago.

On Instagram, quoting one of Rodricks’ favorite songs, Fernandes wrote, “Darkest day today. I’m numb with deep sorrow and the loss of the dearest one. He should still be here. With us. Here’s what I must say, while I find the strength to speak very little ….”

Born on May 28, 1960, Rodricks was hailed as the champion of minimalism on the fashion runway. He was involved in conceptualizing the first Lakme India Fashion Week, held in 2000.

Rodricks championed several environmental causes including that in his own village where he spent the last few years of his life.

Rodricks was award the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, for his works in 2014.

He was outspoken on several issues, such as the rights for the LGBTQ community. As recently as 2018 had called on leaders of the Catholic Church to help the LGBTQ community, their families and friends and bring them closer to the Church.

“I will be the public face of this endeavor to establish a hotline to assist LGBTQ and family, friends who need guidance and support to keep the faith,” he had said after a meeting with Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the head of the Catholic Church in India.

He also said he “was moved to tears when Cardinal Gracias not only gave his total approval and support but also agreed to advise his clergy to be more compassionate and less condemning of the LGBTQ community.”

Rodricks was among the first Indians to come out openly as gay in the early 2000s.

He was on course to launch a museum at his ancestral house. Barely a week ago he had tweeted images of finishing touches being done on the Moda Goa Museum that was due to be inaugurated.

Rodricks has authored several books on fashion with specific focus on the historical fashion including The Green Room, Moda Goa and Poskem a novel based on the lives of ‘Poskem’ or adopted children in Goa who were often adopted by rich aristocratic families only to serve around the household.