Friday 23rd May 2008, (40 years to the day of her mother's death), Mum was buried.
It was a crisp 3 degrees Celsius (37F). The autumn sky, clear blue in some suburbs, foggy in others.
The church Ayios Haralmbos, our local Greek Orthodox church where Father Illias conducted the service for my daughter Zoe's funeral, married George and I and Christened Mya. Imposing with it's massive white walls, golden Greek Icons and immense chandeliers. Funeral sprays adorned the entrance.
The stunning casket flowers created by Emily Karanikolopoulos, Mum's dear young friend, who won awards for her stunning Ikebana display at the recent Melbourne Garden Show. (Mum loved and studied Ikebana) arrived with Mum's rosewood casket.
The cortege was lead by my cousin Zarifi carrying the casket flowers.
The pallbearers: Melpo's sons-in-law Costa and George, 3 grandsons, Nick, Chris and Brett, and Jim - son of Mum's "adopted daughter " the late Georgia Bokas and our long time friend Keith Bell.
Followed by her daughters and granddaughters, Loretta, Mya, myself and Jodie.
Her great granddaughter Jessica (3) was too young to attend, with her gorgeous smile and golden curly locks, was there in spirit.
The priests led the funeral procession from the hearse to the canchel with the Easter Hymn (my absolute favourite Orthodox Hymn). The service was conducted by both Father Illias our local Priest and Mum's long time friend who later became a Greek Orthodox Priest Father Doukas. It was both in Greek and English.
The Eulogy Father Doukas gave in Greek was the moving story of his friendship with Mum and Dad, and particularly Mum of recent times. He recounted how late one night, over a year ago, he listened to his answering machine and heard my mother's voice saying she'd like to see him some time. He returned the call and said he'd come the next day as it was late at night. However in the heart of a bitter winter's night he and his wife drove 1 hour and a half in the pouring rain to find Mum in her bed. His words as we opened the door to them and the freezing gusty wind blew in was, "I couldn't sleep tonight if I didn't visit Mum". He told the assembly in the church how they reminisced over old times and then he asked her why she had called. She said "I've got Cancer, it's terminal, I have a list of friends I want to see before I die and so I wanted to see you."
I personally remember that night very well. They talked for a long time about their times of entertaining the Elderly at the nursing home, the concerts, Father Doukas played accordion splendidly and has a melodic voice, singing with Mum and Dad at every opportunity to bring memories of Greece to the elderly and the Greek Community .
Father Doukas gave Mum communion, and he and his wife enjoyed a Greek coffee with her special ever present Greek sweets and before leaving into the bitterly cold night, he said, "I'll come back again FOR SURE .....because Miranda makes sensational Greek Coffee." (That is just a glimpse of his wonderful sense of humour.)
In the Eulogy, Father Doukas also spoke of Mum's warmth, love, community mindedness, dedication to her family and her strength in living with Cancer. He spoke passionately and movingly about the depth of her spirituality and how she practiced Christianity in life, not in words, but in actions.
He cried and tears streamed down his face as he spoke from his heart of the enduring impact Mum had had on his own life. He said she will be thought of in every service he gives for as long as he ministers. "She is like a plant called Vasilikos (regal)," he said "It has a beautiful pungent resplendent smell that permeates the air around it as a live plant and the same when it's dead and dried - the strength doesn't die with the plant's death. " My tears were not of grief, but brought on by his inspiring and touching personal account of Mum's life.
I have never attended such a moving ceremony in my life. To watch the two priests who knew Mum, give the service in their matching blue and white cleric robes with Mum's casket adorned with 100 stunning upright white roses and her mother's beloved gold and silver antique icon facing us on the coffin, was so befitting the wonderful woman laying peacefully below.
The Father Illias read parts of the written Eulogy that Loretta and I had printed in a booklet for everyone who attended, reminding everyone of Mum's words "I want no tears and no sorrow, death is an inevitable part of living."
Then all who had come, went to the canchel to pay their last respects to Mum and then filed past the immediate family to give their condolences.
It was inspiring to see friends Mum had had for 60 years there, as well as my primary school and piano teacher who I hadn't seen for over 45 years, even Mum's new neighbours of only 4 months were there, and little Irene and her Mum from "through the friendship gate". We were extremely touched to see so many beloved relatives, friends and representatives of the many organisations Mum and Dad had volunteered with for so many years in Australia. Each person was a beautiful reminder of her varied and multifaceted full life.
Solemnly, the casket was taken to the hearse, again lead by the two Priests, with the Greek Easter Hymn being sung triumphantly.
In glorious sunshine we drove to the Cemetery and near Dad's gravesite, the most unforgettable thing happened. As the priest led the cortege, 20 - 30 birds circled around us, and as the graveside burial service commenced, the birds (mainly pigeons and one black crow) rested behind the grave and behind the assembly on other headstones.
As we threw flowers and the sand on to the coffin at the service's end, the birds flew in closer, landing on Mum and dad's Headstone and then on the open grave itself. They flew down in groups of 4 or 5 and looked in, then walked backwards and flew away so a new group could come in and repeat the "visitation" and look inside the grave to her coffin. We all looked at each other in amazement and absolute disbelief.
I later asked the funeral staff if this was common at this particular cemetery, as I thought that maybe being homing pigeons there was a reason for this amazing scene we had just witnessed. He said that in all his entire career he had only ever once witness a white dove flying into a grave, and he said that was a funeral of another exceptional woman.
- the art of living
- the art of loving selflessly and
- the art of facing the end of life with courage, humour, dignity and exceptional planning!
When Melpomeni Karanicola left her homeland Greece in 1950 to join and marry her
beloved fiancé Evangelos de Giorgio in Australia, she had no idea what laybefore her. She could not have imagined what a wonderful and lasting contribution she would make to her husband and children, family, friends and to the community in her new homeland.
Now just under 60 years later, her love, kindness, strength, generosity and considerate nature have finally been repaid to her. Not in awards and official accolades – of which there have been numerous in her life - but in the love and companionship she enjoyed right up to her last days.
In her time, she was a devoted mother to her own children Loretta and Miranda,
To her Sons-in-Law Costa and George,To her beloved Grandchildren Nick, Jen, Chris, Brett, Jodie and Mya
And her much loved great-granddaughter Jessica.
She was a dedicated and supportive wife. She home-nursed her beloved husband Evangelos by herself for 7 years in his familiar home environment through his long and torturous disease, until he finally needed full time professional nursing care. Her devotion to him was unwavering.
Melpomeni also devoted her life to her extended family both in Australia and Greece. She was an empathetic listener and above all a person who would give wise and thoughtful advice.Apart from her many personal attributes, her linguistic skills were always in demand. She had completed studies at both the English and the French Institutes in Athens at Tertiary levels. Before she came to Australia she was a volunteer with Red Cross
throughout the 2nd World War assisting in the distribution of their Infant Feeding Program. Melpomeni was asked to liaise with Red Cross Headquarters in Switzerland because of her perfect French she had learnt from her mother who was also fluent. Even before stepping onto Australian soil, she was gratefully harnessed by Immigration Officials to assist them to process the passengers as she was the only one on the entire boat who was fluent in English and Greek. As a result of her love of languages she took up the study of Italian at the age of 50 and Spanish at 60.
As a person, she loved and adored her family first. But she always had time for a wide number of interests - music, dance, languages, the Arts, Opera, Ballet, travelling, as well as her exceptional and colourful garden.
But times were not easy at the beginning of her life in Australia. Despite the loneliness and feeling overwhelming homesickness, she would befriend and form networks with many lonely migrants from all walks of life and nationalities, not only Greeks.
Times were often very tough. She would recollect her days in the mid-fifties whilst pregnant with Miranda when she bicycled daily from Cheltenham to Highett on the unmade roads to leave Loretta in the care of her best friend Betty Toumbourou. Then Melpomeni would cycle on to the train station in Moorabbin. She would catch a train to work, walk several blocks to her bank teller’s job in the city, working a full day then returning by the same journey. Sometimes this occurred in freezing cold
rain or blistering heat, and then they would work together on their first home, room by room, in Cheltenham. But that was her commitment to her husband and to her family. Her unreserved dedication to provide them all with a better life in Australia drove her to make many personal sacrifices.
Melpomeni partnered Evangelos in his house building company, and assisted in their Service Station in Fawkner in the evenings whilst working full time at the office during the day. Together they raised and educated their two daughters. Melpomeni cared for her mother, mother-in-law and brother in law. She financially and emotionally assisted all her extended family. Although she had no immediate family in Australia, she has been the kind-hearted mother figure of her wider family. Almost all of our friends wanted to adopt her as a mother, as she had qualities of nurturing so rare in many families.
Melpomeni was always active in the local community, the Greek community and the wider Australian community. Her volunteer work continued at the Melbourne Children’s Hospital, in the Victorian Education Department, the Immigration Department, within the Greek Community and many Hellenic Organisations. Finally, in recognition of 27 years of dedication to the Australian Greek Society for the Care of the Elderly at Fronditha, both Melpomeni and Evangelos were made Life Governors. Further acknowledgement of Melpomeni’s community work was recognised when she was presented with the Bicentennial Women’s Award.
Melpomeni translated, interpreted, held training courses, conducted cultural exhibitions and seminars,wrote many articles and spoke at numerous conferences. Whenever she could, she made herself available for the Greek Community. She was the first Greek Teacher to conduct children’s Greek Classes in the whole North-Eastern Region. Melpomeni negotiated the first Saturday Greek classes to be held in a Victorian State School.
Her commitment to her volunteer work was intermingled with her diverse professional life. She was highly sought after because of her skills with languages. She worked for the British YMCA and the American College in Athens, and later her linguistic talents culminated as a highly valued senior interpreter within the Commonwealth Telephone Interpreter Service.
Together with her husband Evangelos, they were pioneers in the formation of Greek Elderly Clubs in Victoria, and their success has now permeated throughout the country. They organised trips within Victoria and interstate. Many lonely isolated people found friendship and solace through attending weekly social meetings, gatherings and outings. To this day, many remain in contact as treasured friends after so many years.
Melpomeni would always count her blessings. Even living with cancer, she was thankful that she was ministered by caring doctors and nurses throughout the 13 months of her illness. Melpomeni and her immediate family held in the highest esteem both Case Managers Ana Mubaslat and Denise from the Strathdon Uniting Aged Care Community, as well as her Home Helpers Wendy, Leah and Georgia. Melpomeni acknowledged the exceptional support offered to herself and to her family by the palliative counsellor Cate Keely during these difficult times, as well as the music therapist and biographer provided by the Eastern Palliative Care Organisation.
She was cheerful, smiling and laughing throughout. The staff at the Caritas Christi hospice often stated how wonderful her attitude was, and that the sounds of laughter emanating from her room were so rare in a hospice. They commented that the myriad of visitors and phone calls was an amazing testimony to a wonderful person and the full life she lived.
The highlight of her life was the company of people. In her last days she said “Everything is perfect - my family and my friends keep me alive.” And they did. She had been given only 1-3 months to live, but she enjoyed 13 months from the time of her diagnosis. Right from the beginning she told everyone she didn’t want tears and sympathy. She explained to everyone that she had lived her life to the fullest, and that all she wanted was to be pain-free till the end.
During her last 6 months, Melpomeni was grateful that her beloved house of 37 years sold so easily last December, and that she was able to move straight into her wonderful Independent Living Unit at Strathdon. It was bright and comfortable, and she loved having so many caring neighbours around her. Her hospice room at Caritas Christi was also full of light, family photos and floral bouquets. “It’s been perfect” she’d say.
We’d like to make a special mention to all of the exceptional friends who were like family to Melpomeni. They cared for her and gave her support via constant phone calls and visits. Melpomeni appreciated their concern for her, and all the love they showed lifted her spirits right to the end.
Melpomeni will be remembered fondly as a wonderful mother and friend, an amazingly compassionate person who was brought to this earth to help others. She was an example to all who had the honour of meeting her. Melpomeni has given us all a fine insight into how to live life to the fullest, and how to confront and ride through life’s challenges and hurdles… This has always occurred with kind words of guidance from her vast life experience.
This was her understanding and true practice of the tenets of Christianity. And for this, she will be always remembered.
Front row: Nick. Loretta, Mum, Miranda. Mya and Chris.
Melpomeni de Giorgio
Όταν η Μελπωμένη Καρανικόλα έφυγε το 1950 από την γενέτειρά της για να ακολουθήσει και να παντρευτεί τον αρραβωνιαστικό της Ευάγγελο Nτετζωρτζιο, δεν είχε ιδέα τι την περίμενε... Δεν θα μπορούσε ποτέ να φανταστεί το μέγεθος της προσφοράς της στον άντρα της, στα παιδιά της, στους φίλους και φίλες της και στην παροικία της καινούργιας πατρίδας της.
Τώρα κάπου εξήντα χρόνια μετά, η αγάπη της, η καλοσύνη της, η δύναμη της, η γενναιοδωρία της και ο διακριτικός χαρακτήρας της βρήκαν την αναγνώριση που τους αξίζει. Όχι με τιμές και δόξες - αν και αυτές ήταν αμέτρητες στη ζωή της, - αλλά με την αγάπη και συντροφικότητα που είχε την τύχη να απολαύσει μέχρι και τις τελευταίες μέρες της ζωής της.
Ήταν αφοσιωμένη μητέρα στις δύο κόρες της
Λορέττα και Μιράντα,
Στους γαμπρούς της Κώστα και Γιώργο,
Στα αγαπημένα της εγγόνια Νίκο, Τζεν, Kρiς, Μaï α, Μπρετ και Τζόντι
Στην πολυαγαπηπένη της δισέγγονη Τζέσσικα
Ήταν πάντα μια αφοσιωμένη και ενθαρρυντική σύζυγος. Κατά τη μακρόχρονη και βασανιστική αρρώστια του πολυαγαπημένου συζύγου της Ευάγγελου, για εφτά χρόνια τον κοίταξε μόνη της στο σπίτι τους, ώστε να βρίσκεται σε οικείο περιβάλλον, μέχρις ότου χρειάστηκε να πάει σε γηροκομείο για κατάλληλη φροντίδα. Η αφοσίωση της σ’αυτόν παρέμεινε μέχρι το τέλος αμετάβλητη.
Η Μελπωμένη αφοσίωσε επίσης τη ζωή της στους συγγενείς της εδώ στην Αυστραλία αλλά και στην Ελλάδα. Άκουγε τους άλλους με συμπόνια αλλά πάνω απ’ όλα ήταν άτομο που έδινε πάντα σοφές και λογικές συμβουλές.
Έκτος από τα τόσα προσωπικά χαρίσματα που είχε, οι γλωσσικές της ικανότητες είχαν πάντα μεγάλη ζήτηση. Συμπλήρωσε ανώτερες σπουδές στα Αγγλικά και Γαλλικά σε Ακαδημίες στην Αθήνα.
Πριν έρθει στην Αυστραλία υπήρξε εθελόντρια με τον Ερυθρό Σταυρό κατά το Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο, βοηθώντας με το πρόγραμμα διατροφής βρέφων.
Η Μελπωμένη κλήθηκε να αναλάβει την επικοινωνία με την έδρα του Ερυθρού Σταυρού στην Ελβετία λόγω της ικανότητας της στα γαλλικά τα οποία είχε μάθει από τη μητέρα της που επίσης τα μιλούσε άπταιστα. Ακόμα και πριν καν πατήσει το πόδι της στην Αυστραλία, οι τελωνειακοί την έβαλαν να τους βοηθήσει με τις διαδικασίες των επιβατών γιατί ήταν η μόνη στο καράβι που μιλούσε άπταιστα και ελληνικά και αγγλικά. Η αγάπη της για τις ξένες γλώσσες συνεχίστηκε και αργότερα με την εκμάθηση της Ιταλικής στα 50 της χρόνια και της Ισπανικής στα 60 της χρόνια.
Σαν άτομο, αγαπούσε και λάτρευε πάνω απ΄ όλα την οικογένεια της. Πάντα όμως έβρισκε χρόνο για ευρύ φάσμα ενδιαφερόντων-όπως μουσική, χορό, ξένες γλώσσες, καλές τέχνες, όπερα, μπαλέττο, ταξίδια και για τον εξαιρετικό και πολύχρωμο κήπο της.
Στην αρχή η ζωή δεν ήταν πάντα εύκολη στην Αυστραλία. Παρ’όλη την μοναξιά και την νοσταλγία για την πατρίδα, έβρισκε και άλλα μοναχικά άτομα διαφόρων εθνικοτήτων, όχι μόνο Έλληνες, και δημιουργούσε φιλίες και γνωριμίες.
Οι καιροί όμως ήταν δύσκολοι. Θυμόταν τις μέρες στα μέσα της δεκαετίας του πενήντα, ενώ ήταν έγκυος την Μιράντα, πήγαινε με ποδήλατο σε χωματόδρομους από το Cheltenham στο Highett για να αφήσει την Λορέττα με την καλύτερη της φίλη, Μπέττυ Τουμπούρου. Στη συνέχεια η Μελπωμένη πήγαινε με το ποδήλατο της στο σταθμό του τραίνου του Moorabbin. Έπαιρνε το τραίνο για την δουλειά, περπατούσε αρκετή απόσταση για να πάει στην δουλειά της σαν τραπεζικός υπάλληλος στη πόλη, δούλευε όλη μέρα και έκανε την ίδια διαδρομή γυρίζοντας σπίτι το βράδυ. Μερικές φορές αυτή η διαδρομή γινόταν με κρύο και βροχή, άλλοτε πάλι με ανυπόφορη ζέστη. Όταν γύριζε δούλευε μαζί με τον άντρα της χτίζοντας δωμάτιο με δωμάτιο, το πρώτο τους σπίτι στο Cheltenham. Τόση ήταν η αφοσίωση της στον άντρα της και στην οικογένεια της! Η υπόσχεση της να τους προσφέρει τα πάντα για μια καλύτερη ζωή εδώ στην Αυστραλία την οδήγησε σε πολλές προσωπικές θυσίες.
Η Μελπωμένη δούλεψε συνεταιρικά με τον Ευάγγελο στην εργολαβική τους εταιρία και βοηθούσε τα βράδια στο βενζινάδικο τους στο Fawkner, ενώ την ημέρα δούλευε σε γραφείο. Μαζί μεγάλωσαν και σπούδασαν τις δύο κόρες τους. Η Μελπωμένη επίσης φρόντισε τη μητέρα της, την πεθερά της και το γαμπρό της. Βοήθησε ηθικά και οικονομικά όλους τους συγγενείς της. Παρ’ όλο που δεν είχε στενούς συγγενείς εδώ στην Αυστραλία, για πολλούς από τους μακρινούς συγγενείς της υπήρξε σαν καλόκαρδη μητέρα τους. Όλοι σχεδόν οι φίλοι μας ήθελαν να την «υιοθετήσουν» σα μητέρα τους γιατί είχε τόσο ανεπτυγμένο το συναίσθημα της αλληλεγγύης, κάτι που είναι σπάνιο σε πολλές οικογένειες.
Η Μελπωμένη ήταν επίσης ενεργό κοινωνικό μέλος της περιοχής της, της Ελληνικής παροικίας και της Αυστραλιανής κοινωνίας. Ο εθελοντισμός της συνεχίστηκε στο Νοσοκομείο Παίδων της Μελβούρνης, στο Υπουργείο Παιδείας της Βικτώριας, στο Υπουργείο Μετανάστευσης, στην Ελληνική Κοινότητα καθώς και σε διαφόρους Ελληνικούς οργανισμούς. Κατόπιν προσφοράς 27 χρόνων στον Ελληνο-Αυστραλιανό Σύλλογο για τη φροντίδα των ηλικιωμένων, «Η Φροντίδα», η Μελπωμένη και ο Ευάγγελος αναγνωρίστηκαν σαν τιμητικά μέλη ζωής. Η προσφορά της Μελπωμένης στους συνανθρώπους της αναγνωρίστηκε επίσης με το Βραβείο αφιερωμένο στη Γυναίκα στα πλαίσια της Δισεκατονταετηρίδας.
Η Μελπωμένη ακούραστα μετέφραζε, εκτελούσε χρέη διερμηνέα, εκπαίδευε, οργάνωνε εκθέσεις, έγραφε άρθρα και έδινε ομιλίες σε αμέτρητες διασκέψεις. Όποτε μπορούσε, πρόσφερε τις υπηρεσίες της στην Ελληνική Κοινότητητα. Ήταν η πρώτη Ελληνίδα δασκάλα που πρόσφερε μαθήματα Ελληνικών σε παιδιά στα βορειοανατολικά προάστεια της Μελβούρνης. Η Μελπωμένη διευθέτησε την πραγματοποίηση των πρώτων τμημάτων ελληνικής σε δημόσιο σχολείο της Βικτώριας.
Η αφοσίωση της στον εθελοντισμό συνυπήρχε αρμονικά με την ποικοιλόμορφη επαγγελματική της ζωή. Ήταν περιζήτητη λόγω των γλωσσικών της ικανοτήτων. Δούλεψε για τη Βρεττανική Χριστιανική Οργάνωση Νέων και το Αμερικάνικο Κολλέγιο στην Αθήνα, και αργότερα οι γλωσσικές της ικανότητες την εγκατέστησαν ως ανώτερο διερμηνέα στην Ομοσπονδιακή Τηλεφωνική Υπηρεσία Διερμηνείας.
Μαζί με τον σύζυγό της Ευάγγελο, ήταν πρωτοπόροι στην ίδρυση Ελληνικών σωματείων ηλικιωμένων, και αυτή η επιτυχία τους είχε απήχηση σε όλη τη χώρα. Οργάνωσαν ταξίδια μέσα στη Βικτώρια αλλά και σε άλλες πολιτείες. Πολλοί μοναχικοί και απομονωμένοι ηλικιωμένοι της παροικίας βρήκαν συντροφιά και παρηγοριά στις εβδομαδιαίες συναντήσεις, κοινωνικές εκδηλώσεις και εξόδους. Πολλοί απ’αυτούς μέχρι σήμερα, παραμένουν σε επαφή ως καρδιακοί φίλοι.
Η Μελπωμένη πάντα θεωρούσε τον εαυτό της τυχερό, ακόμα και όταν ζούσε με τον καρκίνο. Τυχερή που κατά τους 13 μήνες της αρρώστιας της είχε εξαιρετικούς γιατρούς και νοσοκόμες που πραγματικά νοιάζονταν για αυτήν. Η Μελπωμένη και η οικογένεια της εκτίμησαν ιδιαίτερα τις Διευθύντριες από το Strathdon Uniting Aged Care Community Ana Mubaslat και Denise, καθώς και τις οικιακές βοηθούς Wendy, Leah and Georgia. Η Μελπωμένη και η οικογένεια της αναγνωρίζουν επίσης τη βοήθεια που τους πρόσφερε και η κοινωνική λειτουργός Cate Keely κατά τις δύσκολες στιγμές τους καθώς και η μουσικοθεραπεύτρια και βιογράφος που τους παρείχε ο οργανισμός Eastern Palliative Care.
Ήταν χαρούμενη, χαμογελαστή, και ευδιάθετη πάντα. Το προσωπικό του γηριατρείου Κάριτας Κρίστι συχνά έλεγε το πόσο αξιοθαύμαστη ήταν η αντιμετώπιση της κατάστασης της, και τα γέλια που άκουγαν από το δωμάτιο της ήταν σπάνιο φαινόμενο για ένα νοσοκομείο. Σχολίασαν και τους αμέτρητους επισκέπτες και τηλεφωνήματα που είχε όσο νοσηλευόταν εκεί που από μόνα τους δείχνουν τι θαυμάσιος άνθρωπος ήταν και τη γεμάτη ζωή που έζησε.
Το κυριώτερο μέρος της ζωής της ήταν η συντροφιά των ανθρώπων. Τις τελευταίες μέρες της ζωής της έλεγε «Όλα είναι τέλεια-η οικογένεια μου και οι φίλοι μου με κρατούν στη ζωή». Και πράγματι έτσι ήταν κιόλας. Της είχαν δώσει οι γιατροί 1-3 μήνες ζωής από την διάγνωσή της. Από την αρχή έλεγε σε όλους ότι δεν ήθελε δάκρυα και συμπόνοια. Εξήγουσε ότι είχε ζήσει την ζωή της έτσι όπως την ήθελε και το μόνο που ζητούσε τώρα πια ήταν να μην υποφέρει μέχρι το τέλος.
Κατά τους τελευταίους έξι μήνες, η Μελπωμένη ένιωσε ανακούφιση που το αγαπημένο της σπίτι στο οποίο έζησε για 37 χρόνια πουλήθηκε τόσο εύκολα τον περασμένο Δεκέμβριο. Η ίδια μετακόμισε απ’ευθείας σε υπέροχο φωτεινό και άνετο διαμέρισμα σε μονάδα ανεξάρτητης διαβίωσης ηλικιωμένων, με πολλούς καλούς γειτόνους. Ακόμα και το δωμάτιο στο γηριατρείο Κάριτας Κρίστι ήταν φωτεινό, γεμάτο από οικογενειακές φωτογραφίες και μπουκέτα λουλουδιών. «Ήταν όλα τέλεια» έλεγε πάντα.
Θα θέλαμε να αναφερθούμε ιδιαιτέρως σε όλους τους εξαιρετικούς φίλους που τους θεωρούσε σαν την οικογένεια της η Μελπωμένη. Την αγαπούσαν και τη στήριζαν αδιάκοπα μέσω των συχνών τηλεφωνμάτων και επισκέψεων τους. Η Μελπωμένη πάντα εκτιμούσε το ενδιαφέρον τους και η αγάπη τους αναπτέρωνε το ηθικό της μέχρι το τέλος.
Η Μελπωμένη θα παραμείνει στη μνήμη μας πάντα σαν μια υπέροχη μητέρα και φίλη, ένα συμπονετικό άτομο που βρέθηκε πάνω στη γη για να προσφέρει βοήθεια σε άλλους. Ήταν παράδειγμα προς μίμηση σε όλους όσους είχαν την τιμή να τη γνωρίσουν.
Η Μελπωμένη μας έδειξε πώς να ζούμε κάθε στιγμή της ζωής μας, και πώς με θάρρος και επιμονή να αντιμετωπίζουμε της ζωής τα εμπόδια, τις δοκιμασίες και τις προκλήσεις. Αυτά μας τα μετέφερε πάντα με ευγενικά λόγια καθοδήγησης βγαλμένα από τις απέραντες εμπειρίες της ζωής της.
Έτσι καταλάβαινε και ζούσε την Χριστιανική της πίστη. Και έτσι θα την θυμόμαστε πάντα.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM.....
On 25th May George, Brett, Mya and I sang Easter, birthday song and trinity prayers to Mum at the gravesite. Lit the Thimiato (incense burner) and candles on her birthday cake Mya blew them out for her. A wonderful farewell to her, as we left Australia the next day.
"Melpo your room is beautiful, but what else would you expect, so are you." they are always busy, but nothing is too much for them. We wanted to play some Greek music for mum that Marshall had put onto CD for me from our old Sunday family matinees music, we asked the pastoral care lady and within minutes a CD player turned up. And this is how they are about everything. It's truly a magically caring place, not a place of death.
. The Hospice provides an art and craft room for both patients and their families and it really has been our saving grace. Veronica was in her room drawing one day and I encouraged Mya to go and show her her own drawings and thus started a wonderful "artistic friendship". Mya draws for Veronica and Veronica draws for Mya. They are real soul mates - their bond in unbelievable. There are also toys in the art room and other children play in the room, so Mya either draws them into artistic activities with her or she downs her pencils and play with the toys with them. Mya happily sits in there for hours drawing making cards, and bringing them in to show her Yaya and myself. Mya has endeared herself to many of the staff too, and they all compliment her on her drawings. So she is well known and missed on the days she does not visit. Even though Loretta and I go every day, I try to limit Mya to every second day, so that her life doesn't get too focussed on the hospice. Any longer though, and Mya pines to visit her grandma.
She went fishing and picnicking with them....much better than being in a hospital with every one terminally ill. My gratitude to them is immeasurable. 
I also have to especially thank Margit for being the "brave mum " at Luna Park. She took Mya on all the fast and scary rides and I did all the gentle ambling rides and activities, like the one above - that was exactly my pace. What a great compromise!
IN AMONGST THAT AND ALL THE REST OF THINGS THAT GO WITH a 6 year old and a terminally ill mother... Loretta and I have been closing down mum's Independent Living Unit. We have been staying there since mum went into respite and then permanently into Caritas. Yes, don't laugh at the age of 51 I have been living in an Aged Care Facility for the past 3 months!!!! It's hysterical really. I quite like it.
