MUM PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY TODAY- DAD'S BIRTHDAY

At 12 noon today Monday 19th May, 2008, Mum passed away just as she hoped; peacefully, comfortable, without pain and in her sleep. All her affairs were in place and completed. Her last words were "Thank you" and the last words she heard from her family were "We love you".

We have been trying to ring people, but the grapevine (which is her magnificent network) has been working very well. The funeral notices will be in Neos Kosmos on Thursday, and in the Age and Heralds Sun this week. The funeral will be on Friday @ 10am at ST Haralambous Greek Orthodox Church in Templestowe.

We do not have an address in Melbourne, my mobile number is +61439891119 but it will be busy for a while. Probably the best address to write will be to my normal UK e-mail address. May I gently remind everyone again, I neither wish to receive any Forwarded emails at all nor any electronic cards (e-cards). I have just bought another computer and do not want any more viruses nor crashes. Thank you for respecting our wishes.

Mum's wishes were that no flowers be sent after her death, and that donations be made to Eastern Palliative Care the main organisation that looked after her (and us) so brilliantly throughout her 14 month illness.

Eastern Palliative Care:

http://www.eastpallcare.asn.au/donationform.html


I will publish her eulogy here on the blog after the funeral.


In Greek we say:
Let us all be well, so we can remember her.

She may have closed her eyes, but her heart remains open forever, to all who she loved and all who loved her.

As I rang to tell her friends of her passing I received such touching comments about Mum. I'll share some of these with you now;

• 
  You were lucky to have such loving parents.
  You had heroic parents
  Your Mum was the strongest woman I ever knew.
  She was a magnificent woman.
  An angel
  She will be remembered for all she gave so
  freely - especially her love.
  Such a loving person.
  Her kindness was boundless.
  

A few days ago, whilst mum was resting, Loretta and I went to the chapel near Mum’s room at Caritas Christi hospice. We lit a candle for Mum, and for our dearest departed Dad, Thia Pitsa (Mum’s sister) and my daughter Zoe. As we sat and watched the candle flames, Zoe’s flame glowed with amazing intensity as if to tell us she was present.

Then on Dad’s birthday, as mum was in a very deep sleep, Loretta went to the chapel and lit a candle for Dad, Mum, Her sister Pitsa, and our yaya Fifi. This time, Dad’s flame glowed with amazing intensity, as Mum’s candle descended and almost extinguished. Just at that moment the nurses called Loretta to Mum’s room as she was close to dying. Loretta had time to go to her say “Goodbye Mum, I love you” and kiss her as mum drew her last breath.


A few weeks ago Mum had given me a box of treasures that Mya had loved; special possessions such as her miniature Swarovski bird that I had given Mum years ago, the little china penguins that were Mum’s and Dad’s love mascots, some beautiful miniature white swan figurines, and all Mum’s memorabilia of Paris and the Eiffel tower. Mya has very strong fondness and memories of going to Paris and seeing the Tower. Mum also had Parisian handkerchiefs and miniature Eau de Colognes of her favourite perfume.


Mya and I had very long discussions about Yaya being close to dying, that it was my father’s birthday. We talked through the fact that wanting her grandmother to stay alive was natural, but that the cancer would make her feel worse, so it was nearly time for her to go. Mya was delighted to receive all of these special gifts from Yaya which now had become Mya’s special treasures. Mya became very emotional about the impending loss of her yaya with whom she’d spent most of the last 14 months. I had had these gifts for many days but decided, for some reason ,to give them to her at that particular moment.


At peace with the explanations and Mummy cuddles she'd received, she explored and delighted in her treasures.

Then telephone rang. Loretta told me Mum had just passed away that very minute.


When we are so close to someone, especially someone so spiritual, messages can be felt wherever we are. Mum may have closed her eyes, but she will always be in our hearts and our minds in fond memories as the elegant, gracious, loving Lady she was.

I'm sure mum would have liked this poem...

MEMORIES

I’d like the memory of me
to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an after glow
of smiles when life is done.

I’d like to leave an echo
whispering softly down the ways
of happy times and laughing times
and bright and sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve,
to dry before the sun
of happy memories
that I leave when life is done.