Feliċ - An appreciation

In the evening of Tuesday 17 September 2019, the doorbell rang. It was Salvina, wife of neighbour Felix Caruana.

“Joe, I have bad news for you,” she said in a trembling voice.

In the second or two that followed, before she uttered another word, I thought of events which could have made the bad news.

‘Feliċ miet. – Feliċ died.’

I was shocked, and stunned. I was speechless. It was the last of bad news I could ever expect to hear!

I allowed her in, and hugged her, and both of us cried.

I lost a neighbour, a great friend.

Felix Caruana – more popularly called Feliċ – was no VIP. However, in Narcissi Street, Santa Luċija, where he lived with his wife Salvina and brought up their only daughter Marisa – he was the most important, the most generous, the most helpful, the most kind-hearted neighbour one could ever have.

Along his married life, perfectionist Feliċ did a lot of the tiling, plastering, painting, and many other odd jobs himself.

“You spend a lot of money, and nobody gives you a good finish. They rob you alive,” he kept saying.

Feliċ was a happy man – true to the meaning of his name felice. He was a person with whom you would chat on many topics.

He liked surprising friends with jokes which he narrated lovingly.

Feliċ was an ardent fan of Inter FC, of Milan and of the national team, the ‘Azzurri’ of Italy. He was so keen on their success – or otherwise – in both league and international tournaments. But he was also so sensitive about their performance in matches they played that if someone, even just to tease him, mentioned bad playing or a loss for either of them, he would be hurt.

He was for some years the secretary of the Inter Fan Club (Malta).

In 1971, Inter had to play against Valletta FC – away and at home – in what was then the Champions League. He approached me, enrolled me as a member in the Fan Club, and asked me to help him with correspondence (in Italian) with Inter’s fiduciario who came to Malta, and eventually succeeded to make our members meet and have photos with the Inter players, in front of the now defunct Verdala Hotel, in Rabat, where they were staying. Feliċ and I had the opportunity to meet the players [still in their playing outfit]and Club president Ivanoe Fraizzoli at Café Cordina, in Valletta, where the owner – himself a passionate fan of Inter – welcomed them for a sumptuous treat and presented each of them with a large silver Maltese cross he ordered on purpose and paid for by himself. Feliċ and I were given a gold badge and a cravatte with the emblem of the club on them.

During Christmas time Feliċ used to decorate the sitting room window with lights and a beautiful, large Baby Jesus placed on the sill, for all who pass by to enjoy. His was this only such public ‘Happy Christmas’ message in our street. And his was also the only large cross with bulbs switched on, during the night, hanging by the balcony railings, during the whole of Passion Week.

Now, he is gone.

We, his neighbours, have lost a great helping hand. He was always available for any assistance you ask of him. He had all the useful tools you might think of. And he would leave a job he would be attending to, and go to his garage to fetch you the special spanner, the washer, the grinder, whatever you need and he could provide.

But, above all, we lost a great neighbour… a man with a golden heart… a man who would not hesitate to give you anything you tell him you like!

Your family misses you. We, your neighbours, miss you dearly. Our street, will never be the same without you.

You had a moving Funeral Mass. And the few words in the homely Fr Paul said, expressed the affable good character you were endowed with.

May you rest in eternal peace. Our Divine Great Lord knows that you merit it.