A requiem mass for Mum will be held at 9.30am NZT tomorrow at St Michael's Catholic Church.
For those who aren’t able to join us, the service will be livestreamed on the link below.
The recording will be available to download a few days after the funeral and will remain online for 90 days, so you can watch it later if you can’t view it live.
Darling Mum passed away peacefully at 4:41am on the 27th of June, with me, her sister Jane, and brother-in-law Cesare by her side.
She spent her final days at Ellerslie Gardens Lifecare, surrounded by her favourite things, including cherished photos, flowers, treasured possessions, and loved ones.
She will be dearly missed.
How brave you have been Orlando - your amazing mum will be so incredibly proud of you. Big hugs and love your way xxx
Thank you so much for the overwhelming generosity and kindness shown to Mum and me. We’ve been deeply moved by the messages, donations, and love from family, friends, and people we don’t know personally.
Many of you have been following Mum’s journey. Her diagnosis came as a complete shock. We now believe her illness may have started earlier this year, though there were no clear signs. Three weeks ago, I dropped her at the airport for a short trip to Christchurch. The next morning, she suffered a stroke from brain bleeding, and we received the devastating news that she has stage four melanoma brain cancer, with limited time. Mum had been in good health, and none of us, especially me who lives with her, had any idea.
Last Friday, with her condition stable, we brought her home to Auckland. It’s where we feel most supported. She is now in a private room at Auckland Hospital with a peaceful view. I’ve decorated her space with her belongings and cards from loved ones.
Sadly, the second opinion from Auckland confirmed what we were told in Christchurch. The cancer has progressed, and treatment is no longer an option. We’re now focused on keeping Mum comfortable and exploring hospice care.
We haven’t received the page’s funds yet, but knowing support is there helps us plan for what’s ahead, from healthcare to the responsibilities I’ll take on from Mum.
Thank you again. If you are able to keep sharing the page, it really helps.
Orlando ❤️
