The heartbroken family of a mother and toddler who were found on the 14th floor of Grenfell Tower have paid tribute after their funeral in Sidcup.

Two-year-old Jeremiah Deen - one of the youngest victims of the tragedy - died close to his mother Zainab following the fire in June.

Zainu and Maria Deen, Zainab’s parents, organised their funeral which took place at Kemnal Park Cemetery and Memorial Gardens in Sidcup on September 28.

Maria, who lives in Park Way, Erith, spoke to News Shopper about the "nightmare" ordeal of the last few months.

She said: “Last Thursday was when reality really set in. Up until then all we could do was think and hope and pray that this was a nightmare, but it wasn’t.

“Life was on hold. It did not move.

“They are finally at rest. It is almost closure but it is really difficult because this is not a way it should happen.

“We missed out on Jeremiah. I don’t know how it’s possible to explain it. We have more questions than answers.

“It isn’t right, it should have been the other way around. We should be being buried, not them. This should not have happened. This should not be life. When you lose somebody, you are able to see the body. Not for us, months passed. It is not normal."

SEE ALSO:  Grenfell Tower victims: what we know so far

Maria was at work when she was called by her husband on June 14 to tell her he had not heard from Zainab, who was a 32-year-old catering assistant.

She said: “I came straight home and we went to the hospitals, and just prayed and hoped. But no. It was the police who told us.”

Paying tribute to Zainab, Maria said: “She was a very thoughtful and chatty woman.

“And she was very religious. She was a very good mother to Jerimiah.”

News Shopper:

Grenfell Tower blaze claimed lives of at least 18 children

So far 68 people have been formally identified as victims of the fire which is the deadliest blaze in modern British history.

It is estimated up to 80 people died in the fire at the 23-storey tower block in north Kensington.

The Grenfell Muslim response unit has estimated the majority – estimated about 80 per cent – of those living in Grenfell Tower were Muslim.

Asif Hassanali manages Kemnal Gardens, which is one of only a few cemeteries that offer dedicated Muslim areas.

He said it was important to him that free ceremonies were offered to all Grenfell victims.

He said: “As soon as I heard about it I approached the senior partners. It is something we have been offering all victims.

“The mother and son were buried in a special area facing Mecca, it is tradition.”
 

News Shopper:

Kemnal Gardens

Maria said: “They were buried together because in our culture, we don’t want the spirits to be alone.

“The support we have had from the police and the Red Cross has been good, we cannot thank them enough - but there is no way to plan for this.”

Zainab and Jeremiah were buried in a traditional ceremony with only a small number of family members present.

Mother and son were buried four months after they died.

Maria said: “It was like life was on hold. Nothing was real, until now. Please, rest in peace.”