Dippnall struck by double tragedy
A family well-known in George is devastated after being struck by double tragedy. Cathy Tilling-Dippnall lost her mother, Betty Tilling (96) and her husband, Kelvin Dippnall (68), within days of each other. Betty passed away on 20 August and Kelvin on the 22nd. To add to their sorrow, a family friend and also wellknown George resident, Dolly Subramoney (54), died on Monday 24 August. The Dippnalls lived in George for 16 years before moving to Fish Hoek a few years ago. Betty Tilling was in hospital and was discharged on 19 August. She died of bronchopneumonia in the early hours of the next morning at the family home in Fish Hoek. Kelvin also died at the family home after a suspected massive heart attack. Subramoney passed away in the George Hosiptal ICU, two weeks after sustaining severe burn wounds in a fire at a holiday resort near Oudtshoorn.
Cathy worked as a George Herald reporter from 2003 to 2006. She told the paper on Monday that she had lost her best friends. "My husband and my mother loved me with their souls." She described Kelvin as a community person who loved people irrespective who they were.
On Saturday 22 August, only two days after her mother's passing, she and Kelvin had their normal morning routine. They were thinking of going away for a few days after the death of her mother.
The previous day Kelvin had complained of pain in the chest and tiredness, but they didn't pay much attention to it. Kelvin had been in good health after a successful heart bypass a few years ago. In the early afternoon, they were getting ready to go out when she heard a loud noise in the house and went to see what it was. She found Kelvin lying on the floor."I immediately knew that he was gone and had died," she told George Herald. According to Cathy, their daughter, Heather Mitchell, was heartbroken when she received the news. She has two children and is married to Alan Mitchell.
Their son, Ross, is currently in England and will travel to George for the private double memorial / celebration service for Betty and Kelvin on Monday 7 September.
I immediately knew that he was gone and had died.