My dearest mum Angelina was the most wonderful, most graceful and inspirational person that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Mum was the rock that her whole family relied upon for everything. I feel truly honoured to have had her as my mother.
Mum taught me so many things, from the moment I was born, and she is still teaching me things now. I am so proud of the immense courage, dignity and grace that she showed through her stay in hospital. The sheer determination she had in refusing to give up, to fight the alien disease and its effects on her, and the unbowed and unbroken human spirit she showed in her last few days were exceptional.
Mum was a such a tough little fighter, and despite everything she was living through, one morning she managed to give to me a smile that I will cherish forever and and take with me to my grave. Mum made a superhuman effort to assure people at her bedside that things were going to be all right. The feisty spark she had throughout her life was there right until the end. I expected nothing less from her, and as always, Mum never disappointed.
Rest in Peace Mum, you deserve it.
All my love
Paul xxx
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Some excerpts from some of the emails and cards that we received from some of Mum's family and freinds:
*****
We shall always remember her with love and affection. She was a very positive and enthusiastic person, full of energy and always ready to get to know and help people ... In the meantime, a big big hug from us all. Take care Paul and don't be too sad. I'm sure she will watch and protect us all from the sky. Ciao Paul.
*****
I am so sorry for your loss!You have my deepest sympathy.I can't believe Angelina is no longer among us.It makes me so sad! However,I'll never forget the moments we shared together.I'll cherish those precious words she spoke to me.She taught me to believe in myself and struggle to achieve my goals!What a great woman!!!Her memory will always live on strong in me!
In such a sad moment,I am close to you with my prayers.
Please,feel free to email me in the future no matter what reason.
*****
This is very sad news and Kathi and I feel very bad. We both thought the world of Angelina both as a friend and colleague. Her students loved her and from time to time they ask after her. She is often in our thoughts and will be missed. Thank you for contacting us.
Please accept our profound sympathy,
*****
This is such sad news and my deepest sympathies to you and your sister, and to Angelina's grandchildren, too. I loved my lessons with Angelina and, although I stopped two years ago when my work left little time for extra curricula activity, I think of your mother frequently -- and especially when I'm walking along the seafront listening to Michel Thomas (to whose tapes she introduced me). I loved her intelligence and her sense of humour, and her love of teaching. I'm sure she will be sorely missed by many. Thank you for letting me know about the funeral. I'll be there on Friday. With warm wishes
*****
Dear Paul,
I cannot tell you how very sad I am at your loss and the passing of a lovely, kind and very inspirational lady.
I had taken time out from my lessons following the death of my two aunts and was composing a letter to Angelina in my rusty Italian, planning to return to her after Christmas.
I cannot quite believe that we won't see her again - she was always so vibrant, full of health and fun and so very elegant.
She was more than just a teacher and I am sure inspired so very many people with her infectious love of learning.
Paul, your Mum was so kind to me last year when I arrived for a lesson following the day my son's best friend died. I was so upset and the care and compassion she showed me will always stay with me. Having lost my own Mother 4 years ago, for that hour, she filled the void that she had left and was such a comfort.
She was so proud of you and her family and always spoke with such love and affection of you and her visits to you. We often shared conversations about our children and how special each of them were to us.
Your grief must be very raw at the moment and I know just how painful the loss of a Mother is. It is a very special loss and not like any other. I hope that you could feel able to call if you needed someone to talk to,perhaps was outside of the family. I know this helped me.
I have taken the liberty to attach a verse that I wrote last year when I was experiencing deep grief and I hope you may find it helpful. Please disregard it if not.
I feel so priviledged to have known Angelina and to have had her expert tutorage. I will remember her with affection as a friend not just a tutor, and as a lovely lady with an amazing intellectual mind and a passion for life.
She is at peace now and you will all have such wonderful memories to keep.
Please can you tell me is the service on Friday a private family one? I would so like to pay my respects to her but understand if this is not possible and will send flowers anyway.
Please take care of yourself and your family. It is strange when you suddenly find yourself as the head of the family.
With my love at this sad time
*****
I am so shocked and sorry to hear this news. Your Mum was a lovely lady and I was hoping to restart Italian lessons with her sometime in the new year. I have never met you but she often spoke of you and seemed very proud of you and the rest of her family.
My sincere condolences to you all.
*****
Hi Paul,
I'm saddened .... no words,
please accept my heartfelt sympathy.... your MUM was a wonderful person.
I will always remember her as an extraordinary mother and teacher of life.
A big hug like a brother ,
ciao,*****
Treasured memories, Rest in Peace
*****
Angelina, My teacher and friend. I shall miss you hugeley, and Saturday mornings will never be quite the same
With love, Christine MacFie
*****
Thank you to a wonderful teacher
Love
*****
With love and thanks for all your knowledge, wisdom, inspiration and fun. I will miss you
*****
To a special and cherished friend
*****
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Maria's Speech at the funeral:
I am still in the process of transcribing this, it will be here soon
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*****
My Speech at the funeral:
Good afternoon everyone and thank you for coming to pay your respects to my mum Angelina, and thank you to Gemma and Jeremy who telephoned me yesterday, unfortunately unable to make it here today.
Well, what can I say to you about my wonderful mum?
Mum achieved so much during her life and inspired so many people to do so many things, despite her own humble beginnings.
Mum was born 80 years ago in Venice Italy, where she grew up with 8 brothers and sisters.
Forced to leave school at the age of 10 due to the Second World War, she played a big part in bringing up her youngest brothers and sisters, in fact becoming something of a second mother to them.
Mum came to England in the 50s and trained and worked as a nurse, in the 70s she retrained and worked as a French teacher. When we moved to South Africa in the early 70s she went back to nursing, which she continued to do until the 80s when she moved into Medical Lecturing, and eventually ended up as a Senior Lecturer in Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Natal Medical School in South Africa. Not bad for somebody who left school at the age of 10.
Mum returned to England in the early nineties, and again worked as a nurse until she retired. Well, I say retired, but typically of her, she sold her house and moved to Italy where she took on a job at a language school, teaching English. She absolutely loved teaching and helping people, and when she returned to England 8 or 9 years ago my sister and I thought that she would at last put her feet up and have herself a nice relaxing retirement.
Again, we underestimated her
In her seventies now, she decided that she would start teaching Italian in Hove, so she duly advertised locally and started with her first students, and was still actively teaching up until a few short weeks ago. She absolutely adored teaching and the intellectual stimulation that preparing for the lessons gave her, and interacting and helping the people who came to her to learn Italian gave her so much satisfaction, both intellectually and socially.
Whilst in her mid seventies, she decided that she wanted to learn Spanish, which she went out and did part time at a college in Hove. She also learned how to use a computer and became a dab hand at word processing her lessons and using email and the internet. She was indeed one amazing woman.
Mum was not only academically focussed, she was very keen on maintaining her health by eating the right foods, drinking the right drinks and keeping her body healthy by doing yoga, lots of walking and cycling. I spent a week with her in Italy earlier this year, we would go out for bicycle rides in the morning, and she never ceased to amaze me with how fit she was, and how far she could cycle. Certainly a lot further than me as it happens! I was fortunate enough to spend three or four wonderful holidays with Mum in Italy as an adult, and I treasure the memories of the great times we had.
With her own family Mum was the rock that we all turned to for comfort, advice and love. She held us all together as a family, and always had time to listen to any problems we may have had, whether it was me, Maria, her grandchildren, or her brothers and sisters. Mum always encouraged, supported, and inspired me to do whatever I wanted to do, and she was always there for me if and when things went wrong, be it work problems, relationship issues or just when I needed somebody to speak to. Mum and I had a great relationship, I spoke to her on the phone nearly every day for the last 5 years or so. I loved to make her laugh, I loved to hear her beautiful Italian accent and I am very grateful that I was a part of a lot of her life.
Mum would come and stay with me in Cheshire two or three times a year too, something I always looked forward to as the change of scenery seemed to refresh and invigorate her, and I know she really looked forward to seeing my daughter Laura whilst she was in Cheshire. Mum was really proud of Laura and her progress at university, and was always asking about her when we spoke on the phone.
Mum loved all of her family, her friends and the great relationships she had with her students.
Mum, I know that you are here in spirit and taking this all in, I am so sorry that I could not do more for you more often, You were the kindest, most generous, and loveliest person that I have ever had the privilege of knowing. I miss you so much, I miss your lovely voice, I miss your wonderful smile, I miss your warmth, your caring, and your laughter. If people’s love for you was capable of keeping you alive, you would have lived forever. Rest in Peace mum, I love you, we will meet again someday. Thank you for everything.
*****
Music at the funeral:
Fleetwood Mac - Songbird
Pavarotti - Mamma
Mamma Lyrics, with a translation, as requested by Mum for the funeral !
Mamma, son tanto felice
perché ritorno da te.
La mia canzone ti dice
ch'è il più bel sogno per me!
Mamma son tanto felice...
Viver lontano perché?Mamma, solo per te la mia canzone vola,
mamma, sarai con me, tu non sarai più sola!
Quanto ti voglio bene!
Queste parole d'amore che ti sospira il mio cuore
forse non s'usano più,
mamma!,
ma la canzone mia più bella sei tu!
Sei tu la vita
e per la vita non ti lascio mai più!Sento la mano tua stanca:
cerca i miei riccioli d'or.
Sento, e la voce ti manca,
la ninna nanna d'allor.
Oggi la testa tua bianca
io voglio stringere al cuor.Mamma, solo per te la mia canzone vola,
mamma, sarai con me, tu non sarai più sola!
Quanto ti voglio bene!
Queste parole d'amore che ti sospira il mio cuore
forse non s'usano più,
mamma!,
ma la canzone mia più bella sei tu!
Sei tu la vita
e per la vita non ti lascio mai più!
Mamma... mai più!*********************
Mamma, I'm so happy
because I return to you.
My song tells you
this is the most beautiful dream for me!
Mamma I'm so happy ...
Why live so far away?Mamma, just for you my song flies,
Mamma, you will be with me, you will not be alone anymore!
How much I love you!
These words of love that my heart whispers for you
maybe are not used more,
Mamma!
but you're my most beautiful song!
You're the life
and for the rest of my life I won't leave you again!I feel your tired hand
searching for my curls now.
I hear, and your voice is,
the lullaby of old.
Today your head is white
I want to hold you to my heart.Mamma, just for you my song flies,
Mamma, you will be with me, you will not be alone anymore!
How much I love you!
These words of love that my heart whispers for you
maybe are not used more,
Mamma!
but you're my most beautiful song!
You're the life
and for the rest of my life I won't leave you again!
Mamma ... never!
**********************************************
Mum, from me, to you. 31/12/2010
xxxxxxx
Missing you millions xxxxxxx
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