The past 3 months have been challenging to say the least. After making the decision to uproot my stable life in Mt Eliza, Australia and move house, partly to these virgin islands and to countryside France for an unspecified time, I found myself addressing concerns with family that I never dreamt of. My precious daughter Becky was diagnosed with Tuberculosis, a probable outcome of volunteering her services to help orphans in Hanoi, Vietnam some 18 months ago, she is slowly fighting this dangerous disease with the drugs and support from the clinic in Singapore; my dear aunt in a 'write off' car accident where she had to be cut out of her car. With broken ankles and her neck still in a brace, she is recuperating, thank goodness. Naturally I flew to both Singapore to support my Becky and then to Queensland to support my aunt. It was a time for family! My plans were on hold and all house packing on ice!
Our Teddy Bear had also recently passed away and then in the midst of packing up my home after leaving my beloved job in Rye, I find my little mummy deciding her paralysis and lack of quality of life finally too much to bear and choosing to shut down. It only took a few days of her refusal of any food and liquids to shut down her overly thin body. The hours I spent sitting with her seemed to fly in those last days and in the end with her eyes wide open and long deep sighs, I held her firmly and stroked her face as she died in my arms. She was at peace. Her passing was so peaceful. Just the two of us together as always, looking into each others eyes whilst I spoke softly, to go fly with the angels. Fly with the angels mummy! Fly!
So my little mummy is gone, after a tough life surviving WW2, her struggle is over. She was the best, a woman with a good soul always searching for the unknown. She brought me up with good ethics and values and whilst her fears and childlike character prevented her from totally embracing life, she made a difference to all that knew her. I will miss her sweet face and beautiful smile.
We held the funeral on the 7th April in the small beautiful stone church, St Michaels in Kalorama on "her" beautiful Mt Dandenong, near her cottage. She loved that church and was confirmed there. We sang 'Amazing Grace' and both Becky and I spoke about our Grandma to the dear friends that came from near and far in respect of our little family. At the end of the service outside the church Becky and I freed two white doves which soared into the blue sky, up to where the angels fly.
I would like to thank Vicar Stephen May for his kindness and beautiful words, I would like to thank the ladies that organised the wonderful wake in the church hall with the sumptuous afternoon tea and 100's of candles that I requested. I would like to thank the wonderful nurses at Tabulam who nursed her so well. I would like to thank my friends who not only came to the funeral but without question helped me prepare my home. To my darling Jenny and Daz for getting up at 3am in Mildura to drive back for the funeral and who work long hours and have four children between them but gave up their precious time to help me paint my bedrooms ready for tenants and then offer me a bed to sleep in and drove me to the airport at dawn! Wow! To Michelle, who gave up her special time off work to pack my boxes with me all day and lug that heavy desk outside; to Annie, with her own challenges, who left her own 'new' home laden with unpacked boxes to pack mine, I am almost without words to thank you for such care! To my dear old friend Amanda, and Barbie who I didn't even know so well, both offering me their homes to live in when I had to delay my departure, to Robert whose delicious "good-bye" lunch touched my heart once again. You keep giving me those good bye lunches at each of my ventures. I love you so! To Nankies who gave my Becky a bed when she couldn't even come home to rest as our tenants were already there. If I have missed anyone please forgive me! Thank you so much my dear friends, your generosity of heart has touched mine in so many ways, I am honored to have you as friends and whilst I venture out into our amazing world I will miss you all so much!
Our lives are made up from the family and friends that support us! From the actions that are unexpected, far greater than unfulfilled empty promises or words.
From both Becky and myself, thank you dear friends for all your support and loving friendship. We will both come home to Australia at sometime in the future, I am sure!
My beautiful mother, Ursula on Mt Dandenong 1975, age 46.
Always loved and always remembered!
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