As Cumhuriyet bids farewell to its veteran journalist Şükran Soner, news comes of her sister’s death

Şükran Soner was being sent on her final journey in Istanbul when another devastating death was reported: her sister, Türkan Berişe, had also died.

Soner, a columnist for Cumhuriyet and a board member of the Cumhuriyet Foundation, was remembered as one of the symbolic figures of Turkey’s labor struggle. She was also the first woman to serve as general secretary of the Turkish Journalists Union.

A ceremony for Soner took place at Cumhuriyet’s Istanbul headquarters before her coffin was taken to Şişli Mosque. She was buried at Eyüpsultan Cemetery after the noon prayer, with numerous figures from the press, arts and labor worlds attending the funeral.

The news about Berişe emerged while mourners were waiting for Soner’s funeral prayer. Berişe, who was receiving medical treatment, reportedly died after learning that her sister had passed away. She was the mother of Betül Berişe, Cumhuriyet’s managing editor.