Friends and family of Santino P. Kuang, the 32-year-old found stabbed to death in a wooded lot in Springfield last week gathered at his home in Chicopee Monday morning.

"It was a great pain and, I can assure you from that day I have never been the same," said Francis Bok, a friend of Kuang's from Lynn, Mass.

Bok, along with Springfield diocesan priests and friends of Santino Kuang gathered at his Highland Avenue home to mourn the loss of their respected loved one.

"It is a big blow to the family and to the friends because you see somebody and, shortly (later) you learn that person's passed away," said Santino Ngong, Kuang's roommate.

Kuang was found stabbed to death in a wooded area behind Armory Street Wednesday. It is an act of violence his friends and family hoped they would never see again.

"We just escaped from that issue of war, knowing that we are here and it will be safer for us," Ngong said.

Ngong and Kuang met in Sudan, Africa years ago before coming to America for a better life. Kuang came to the area in June, 2006 and worked at Yankee Mattress in Agawam. His friends said it was Kuang's goal to become educated here and help his family back home. Friends said Kuang never engaged in any illegal activity or reported having any problems with anyone in Springfield.

Kuang leaves behind a wife and 9-year-old daughter in Maine. It may be difficult to imagine such a large family, but his friends in Chicopee say it is important to return Kuang's body to Sudan so his family can say goodbye. A tall order, but they feel they owe him that much.

"What I know is he went to work and he failed to come home. We do not know who was behind this, and we hope that the truth will be known," Ngong said.

Kuang was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Longmeadow. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano said a fund has been established with the Bank of Western Massachusetts. They are raising money to send Kuang's body to the Sudan. Provenzano added, "I would encourage anyone in the community who has any information related to Santino's murder, to call the Springfield Detective Bureau."

No arrests have been made in Kuang's death.

A viewing of Santino Kuang will take place Wednesday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Longmeadow from 12-2 p.m, with his funeral to follow.