Friends and family gathered in North Carolina to remember Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to die from Ebola in the U.S.
The Associated Press reports that nearly 40 people attended Duncan’s memorial service at Rowan International Church to say their last goodbyes to someone they describe as a compassionate and selfless man.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that what’s described in the news is something that Eric would do,” said Duncan’s nephew Josephus Weeks, addressing reports that he had contracted Ebola after helping a pregnant woman who died of Ebola. “Eric would have been out there and helped that woman. And he would have done everything that he needed to do for that woman to make sure she was fine.”
Duncan passed away on October 8 after being hospitalized at a Dallas hospital. The 42-year-old had started showing symptoms on Sept. 24 after traveling from Liberia to Texas to visit his fiancée Louis Troh. Duncan wasn’t admitted to hospital until Sept. 28 — three days after being discharged from the same hospital.
His remains were cremated, in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines. His fiancée and 48 other people thought to have had contact with Duncan, are currently being monitored for symptoms. They are expected to leave quarantine after ending their 21-day incubation period.
Duncan is survived by four children.
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