I keep busy including informing both Finnish and Dutch social institutions to cancel a small pension she was receiving from both countries.
Thank you Asty, Helvi was so fond of you.
Thank you all for your kind thoughts. I am sorry I haven’t looked here earlier… The funeral was yesterday with a celebratory meeting afterwards at our place. The house now still echoes with Helvi’s voice and Milo keeps looking at the bedroom door hoping to see Helvi come again to give him his morning pat. It is not to be anymore and now I have to keep busy and in moments of ache and pain tend to the garden of memories of which there are so many. The house is now empty of Helvi. She has gone.
It all happened so quickly but Helvi knew and wanted to come home where she died on the 29th of Oct. at 6pm.
She remembers you all and I let her know whenever I happened to visit this pub of so many years of contact. Some asked where to give donations. Here is the website; https://inmemory.cancercouncil.com.au/ways-to-donate?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImbPDs5LX5QIVgSQrCh2HVQ3GEAAYASAAEgJo6_D_BwE
While Helvi wasn’t given to malice or wishing ill to others, there was one item in her life that would make her angry. The treatment of the downtrodden, the mentally ill, refugees and others. She would be merciless and heap scorn on those that caused social injustices and misery to those that least deserved it. Our Sunday mornings were always special when we would settle-down on the settee in keen anticipation of the ABC’s program ‘Insiders’. A special treat at 9am.
The appearance of Morrison on the News would have her immediately break out in some very strong and unusual language. With Dutton it was worse, I needed to restrain her on the couch. She was merciless and politically astute enough to see the falsehoods, pretence and sheer humbuggery in politicians.
She was so sad that the issue of refugees in endless detention wasn’t solved. The treatment of the elderly in aged care left her speechless. ‘They would never have done that in Finland’, she often said.
Dearest Helvi, I will try and live up to your wishes but I will miss you so much. I’ll keep up your fight against injustices and I also know you want me to get over sadness and continue forward. That’s how you were. Always so positive and cheerful. Helvi, I’ll do my best to get away from myself as much as possible.
Goodbye Helvi, from Gerard, your best and lifelong friend.
There is nothing to be said, except that I’m remembering all the exchanges, bon mottes, insights and the simple love Helvi always seemed to have enough of to share.
Sche and I are thinking of you Gerard, and sharing just a small part of your loss. Helvi was a very special woman.
Thank you for this tribute to Helvi. So many people have spoken lovingly of her through the years, it makes me feel like she would have been a person I would have cherished as a friend.
As the person who commented above has said, nobody can remove the crushing feelings of loss that Gerard is going through right now. It does ease with time, but knowing that others care about you and what you have lost, does help a little.
Thank you, Yvonne. We so much wanted to have a few more years but it was not to be. She kept up the good fight. The funeral was yesterday.
Helvi wants you to remember her by as she was; a very happy and cheerful person, with the indomitable smile. She never wanted attention for herself and often rebuked me for not having a similar attitude. ‘Get away from yourself, Gerard’, ‘you are not important’, she would often tell. ‘Don’t dwell on the negative. Don’t give oxygen to unpleasant ideas or people’.
So many good qualities and she gave me so much.
Hail, Helvi… and farewell. I’ll think of you every time I hear this piece of music.
I feel so sorry for you Gerard… if it would help you to have some company, just let me know and I’ll hit the road tomorrow! (Of course, you’ll also have to let me know what your address is… but I’ll be there if you think I can help at all!)
I only wish I thought there was something I can do to help you feel better, but my own experience of grief tells me it’s not possible… I’m so sorry Gerard… you must feel so lonely right now. My thoughts are with you anyway.
Window Dresser's Arms, Pig & Whistle 
I keep busy including informing both Finnish and Dutch social institutions to cancel a small pension she was receiving from both countries.
Thank you Asty, Helvi was so fond of you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you all for your kind thoughts. I am sorry I haven’t looked here earlier… The funeral was yesterday with a celebratory meeting afterwards at our place. The house now still echoes with Helvi’s voice and Milo keeps looking at the bedroom door hoping to see Helvi come again to give him his morning pat. It is not to be anymore and now I have to keep busy and in moments of ache and pain tend to the garden of memories of which there are so many. The house is now empty of Helvi. She has gone.
It all happened so quickly but Helvi knew and wanted to come home where she died on the 29th of Oct. at 6pm.
She remembers you all and I let her know whenever I happened to visit this pub of so many years of contact. Some asked where to give donations. Here is the website;
https://inmemory.cancercouncil.com.au/ways-to-donate?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImbPDs5LX5QIVgSQrCh2HVQ3GEAAYASAAEgJo6_D_BwE
While Helvi wasn’t given to malice or wishing ill to others, there was one item in her life that would make her angry. The treatment of the downtrodden, the mentally ill, refugees and others. She would be merciless and heap scorn on those that caused social injustices and misery to those that least deserved it. Our Sunday mornings were always special when we would settle-down on the settee in keen anticipation of the ABC’s program ‘Insiders’. A special treat at 9am.
The appearance of Morrison on the News would have her immediately break out in some very strong and unusual language. With Dutton it was worse, I needed to restrain her on the couch. She was merciless and politically astute enough to see the falsehoods, pretence and sheer humbuggery in politicians.
She was so sad that the issue of refugees in endless detention wasn’t solved. The treatment of the elderly in aged care left her speechless. ‘They would never have done that in Finland’, she often said.
Dearest Helvi, I will try and live up to your wishes but I will miss you so much. I’ll keep up your fight against injustices and I also know you want me to get over sadness and continue forward. That’s how you were. Always so positive and cheerful. Helvi, I’ll do my best to get away from myself as much as possible.
Goodbye Helvi, from Gerard, your best and lifelong friend.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Brillant, yo Helvi, your Aitchedness.
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There is nothing to be said, except that I’m remembering all the exchanges, bon mottes, insights and the simple love Helvi always seemed to have enough of to share.
Sche and I are thinking of you Gerard, and sharing just a small part of your loss. Helvi was a very special woman.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you, Warrigal
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Thank you for this tribute to Helvi. So many people have spoken lovingly of her through the years, it makes me feel like she would have been a person I would have cherished as a friend.
As the person who commented above has said, nobody can remove the crushing feelings of loss that Gerard is going through right now. It does ease with time, but knowing that others care about you and what you have lost, does help a little.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you, Yvonne. We so much wanted to have a few more years but it was not to be. She kept up the good fight. The funeral was yesterday.
Helvi wants you to remember her by as she was; a very happy and cheerful person, with the indomitable smile. She never wanted attention for herself and often rebuked me for not having a similar attitude. ‘Get away from yourself, Gerard’, ‘you are not important’, she would often tell. ‘Don’t dwell on the negative. Don’t give oxygen to unpleasant ideas or people’.
So many good qualities and she gave me so much.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Hail, Helvi… and farewell. I’ll think of you every time I hear this piece of music.
I feel so sorry for you Gerard… if it would help you to have some company, just let me know and I’ll hit the road tomorrow! (Of course, you’ll also have to let me know what your address is… but I’ll be there if you think I can help at all!)
I only wish I thought there was something I can do to help you feel better, but my own experience of grief tells me it’s not possible… I’m so sorry Gerard… you must feel so lonely right now. My thoughts are with you anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person