Kree's Blog: March/April Updates

Twentieth Memorial - Shantal Govender (28 Aug 1982 – 1 Mar 1990)

1^st March 2010 was the 20^th memorial of our beloved niece Shantal Yugeshini Govender who passed away at the age of seven. Shantal passed away in 1990 from an un-diagnosed illness just a month after our Aiyah Meenatchi passed away. This year 28 August 2010 Shantal would have turned 28 years old. Sadly in that same year Big-Uppa passed away a day after Shantal’s birthday on 29 August 1990. We cannot imagine what fun you all are having up there in heaven. Shantal was the daughter of Tom & Julie Govender, sister of Prabashini & Sarveshini, grand-daughter of Big-Amma (Sundrum Raman Thaver) and Big-Uppa (the late Johnnie Raman Thaver) and niece of Les, Kree & Cindy. Shantal and her twin brother Daniel, were born pre-maturely (7 months) on 28 August 1982. At 6am, after delivering the baby boy (later named Daniel), the gynae went off unaware that Julie was having twins. Also to Julie’s surprise, the second baby, Shantal was born at 6:10am delivered by the midwife. On hearing about the unexpected twin births, Big-Uppa and Big-Amma excitedly rushed off to Clairwood to buy prem-baby clothes only to later hear that Daniel had passed away within a few hours, around 9:30am. Shantal, weighing around 1kg, spent some time in hospital before being allowed home. Julie was the first in the Thaver family to give birth to twins. From the start, there was something special and radiant about Shantal and only after she had passed away, did we realise how much like an angel she was. She had a distinct black ‘beauty spot’ in her left eye and a smile as bright as the sun. Shantal, we are remembering the love, smiles and treasured memories you left behind which will live in our hearts...till we meet again. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti...

But for the Grace of GOD - New Zealand Update

6^th March 2010 – It is 8years since our arrival in New Zealand. In February 2001, when Kanthan suggested immigrating to New Zealand, my cunning answer was “If you can quit smoking, we’ll move to New Zealand!” Kanthan’s desire to start a new life here was so great that he set a deadline of 18^th March 2001 as the day he would have his last cigarette. To this date he has kept to his word...so here we are... our 8^th year in Auckland, peaceful, content, no regrets! Aah but this land is beautiful!

31^st March 2010 - 19^th Wedding Anniversary of Kanthan and Kree. Through good times and bad, happy and sad, we will stick by each other and always be glad.

2^nd April 2010 – Thanusha turns 18!! Eighteen is regarded as an ‘adult’ in NZ – free to do as they please...(you wish!!). Thanusha celebrated her 18th birthday party with her friends at home. They partied till 3am in our backyard and had a sleep-over. Happy birthday Darling.