Paris at rest as family reaches her side
MUM’S FULL LIFE CUT SHORT
THE daughter of Townsville’s Paris Baccam said her mother’s “cheeky” memory would always live on in the lives she touched.
Ms Baccam lost her battle with colon cancer early yesterday morning just hours after she was reunited with parents, John and Anna Williamson, who had been given an 11th hour reprieve from hotel quarantine, pushed for by the Townsville Bulletin, to say their final goodbyes.
Ms Baccam’s daughter, Alisha Neiling, delivered a touching tribute to her mother after she spent the final moments by her side at Townsville University Hospital.
“She was such an entertainer … everybody had a place at our table, she would bend over backwards for you,” Ms Neiling said.
THE SMELL of spring rolls and the sound of laughter over the dinner table will forever remind Alisha Nieling of her mum, whose “cheeky” memory will live on in the lives she touched.
Townsville mother Paris Baccam, 50, lost her battle with colon cancer early yesterday morning with her husband and youngest daughter by her bedside.
Paris faded away peacefully in Townsville University Hospital just hours after her parents, John and Anna Williamson, were granted a final reprieve from hotel quarantine in Brisbane, pushed for by the Townsville Bulletin, and flew to Townsville to say their last goodbyes.
Ms Nieling said it was a bittersweet moment for her grandparents, who got to spend 30 minutes at their daughter’s bedside in full PPE before being ushered back into quarantine.
“Mum faded away peacefully … Dad gave her a kiss and just watched her breathing slow to a stop,” she said.
Paris, a mum of three, fought a short but tough battle with cancer after she was diagnosed in January.
She faced adversity, forced to quit her job as a driver trainer and endure surgery, but the “stubborn” mum was determined to fight the illness.
Paris was winning her cancer battle for many months, enjoying life at home with her family when doctors told her things had declined.
Given just months to live, then weeks, then finally just hours, until she passed away this week.
Ms Nieling said her mum’s kindness and “extroverted” attitude would be missed the most.
Paris grew up in Sydney after her family left Laos when she was five years old, fleeing the Vietnam War.
Growing up as an immigrant child was hard, but it all changed for an 18-year-old Paris when a man at Central Station caught her eye.
“Dad saw her across the station and decided he had to catch whatever train she was on,” Ms Nieling said.
“He ended up going two hours in the wrong direction just to speak with her.”
Their love blossomed into a family of five and 16 years ago they moved to Townsville, where Paris started working as a driver trainer.
“She used to say she was a local celebrity because she taught half of Townsville how to drive,” Ms Nieling said.
The “rev head” was also a brilliant cook, often roping in Ms Nieling’s friends to stay for dinner and cooking her signature Asian cuisine.
“She was such an entertainer … everybody had a place at our table, she would bend over backwards for you,” Ms Nieling said.
“We will miss her so much.”
Paris’s family has set up a Gofundme page to help cover some of her funeral costs.