Dear Nana,
Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve talked to you. I know you
know how important you were to me and it doesn’t need explanation. But it’s
nice to sometimes give symbols to show how I feel about you. I sometimes go to
your grave and have a chat but it’s over an hour of driving. I know you
understand that. Also, the cemetery is often busy with all the other
grandchildren and family who want to pay homage to you. I like quiet and reflection and this letter seems more
apt.
I think we are very similar in our personalities; our looks too but I feel quite a lot like you in the best ways. You were always compassionate and generous, trying to help others and not asking for anything in return. I do also have your nose which I have learned to love on me but looks striking on your beautiful face.
My memories are of you constantly baking sponges and cakes and making sure everyone had eaten. There were so many grandchildren and cousins around but you kept cooking without tire. Family was everything to you and it must have made you proud as to how successful we all have become. I’m sure you encouraged your children to study and succeed at University and they did.
I remember staying with you as a child and you rubbing Vicks vapour rub on my chest. I was a bit of a sickly kid and you didn’t judge me, just helped me in practical ways with warmth and empathy. You knew that I had a rough time of it with the eye surgeries and always treated me well.
I also remember staying with you when Mum and Dad went on holiday to Fiji. I used to love staring out the windows over Kilbirnie. The view was like watching television; there was always something to look at.
You always sent birthday cards and gifts (from you and Bourke the cat) until the end. I still have some of these.
It must have been so difficult being the first Samoan family in Wellington. I understand why you went into the Salvation Army as that was a refuge for you. They treated you with acceptance and love and instantly, you had a community.
It must have been challenging too being of such high status in Samoa but starting from nothing in New Zealand. You also had to struggle to feed and clothe the children. But still you never said no to another child or adult staying with you.
I know parts of your life weren’t easy. I don’t know how you did it – run a house, work full time at the vacuum cleaner factory, all those kids and grandchildren…so many visitors, everyone wanting something or rather, but probably mostly just wanting to chat to you.
I treasure those times when I lived with you at Crawford Road. It wasn’t perfect but it was nice to be in your life as I edged in to adulthood at age 18.
I am grateful to have had you in my life until my late twenties. I knew you better than any of my other grandparents who died when I was a child. I was also in Wellington during those final years so was able to be with you at the end.
It was so sad to see your decline. I remember running after you as you headed out to the Kilbirnie shops in your blue dressing gown. We did the best we could; I hope you felt cared for.
When you died, I scrubbed your house from top to bottom and helped Uncle Jim organise the logistics of the week up to the funeral including buying all the supplies from Moore Wilsons. It was a week of the full faa’ Samoan funeral with so much work and grief. I learned so much about my culture and you would have been happy to see all the granddaughters immersed in the culture plus all the cooking that took place in your kitchen. Hundreds of people were there with you at the house day and night; you were never alone.
You were so loved and I know you loved me. I think you’d be proud of who I am and perhaps encourage me to play the piano and go to church or more family events.
I think we are very similar in our personalities; our looks too but I feel quite a lot like you in the best ways. You were always compassionate and generous, trying to help others and not asking for anything in return. I do also have your nose which I have learned to love on me but looks striking on your beautiful face.
My memories are of you constantly baking sponges and cakes and making sure everyone had eaten. There were so many grandchildren and cousins around but you kept cooking without tire. Family was everything to you and it must have made you proud as to how successful we all have become. I’m sure you encouraged your children to study and succeed at University and they did.
I remember staying with you as a child and you rubbing Vicks vapour rub on my chest. I was a bit of a sickly kid and you didn’t judge me, just helped me in practical ways with warmth and empathy. You knew that I had a rough time of it with the eye surgeries and always treated me well.
I also remember staying with you when Mum and Dad went on holiday to Fiji. I used to love staring out the windows over Kilbirnie. The view was like watching television; there was always something to look at.
You always sent birthday cards and gifts (from you and Bourke the cat) until the end. I still have some of these.
It must have been so difficult being the first Samoan family in Wellington. I understand why you went into the Salvation Army as that was a refuge for you. They treated you with acceptance and love and instantly, you had a community.
It must have been challenging too being of such high status in Samoa but starting from nothing in New Zealand. You also had to struggle to feed and clothe the children. But still you never said no to another child or adult staying with you.
I know parts of your life weren’t easy. I don’t know how you did it – run a house, work full time at the vacuum cleaner factory, all those kids and grandchildren…so many visitors, everyone wanting something or rather, but probably mostly just wanting to chat to you.
I treasure those times when I lived with you at Crawford Road. It wasn’t perfect but it was nice to be in your life as I edged in to adulthood at age 18.
I am grateful to have had you in my life until my late twenties. I knew you better than any of my other grandparents who died when I was a child. I was also in Wellington during those final years so was able to be with you at the end.
It was so sad to see your decline. I remember running after you as you headed out to the Kilbirnie shops in your blue dressing gown. We did the best we could; I hope you felt cared for.
When you died, I scrubbed your house from top to bottom and helped Uncle Jim organise the logistics of the week up to the funeral including buying all the supplies from Moore Wilsons. It was a week of the full faa’ Samoan funeral with so much work and grief. I learned so much about my culture and you would have been happy to see all the granddaughters immersed in the culture plus all the cooking that took place in your kitchen. Hundreds of people were there with you at the house day and night; you were never alone.
You were so loved and I know you loved me. I think you’d be proud of who I am and perhaps encourage me to play the piano and go to church or more family events.
Lots of love, Andrea
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