Nurse Pela a matriarch and imbokodo
Born: November 18 1954
Died: November 15
Funeral: Tomorrow at Methodist Church in Daveyton from 10am
Burial: Lala Ngoxolo Cemetery at Crystal Park, Benoni
A matriarch, an imbokodo (grinding stone), are two words that quickly come to mind when you think about Maria Mogomotsi Pela.
The retired nurse and former nursing manager at Tembisa Hospital on the East Rand was someone who could be described as a hard-hitter.
Nothing could have prepared the family for Sunday, when she passed on. Pela was a strong, hardworking, organised and inspirational nursing professional with a career that spans over four decades. She had dedicated her entire life to public service. She has been a nurse for most of her life. She always preached that the profession of nursing is giving oneself to enhance the lives of others. Pela was born Maria Tladi to parents Ezekiel and Masele Tladi in Daveyton in 1954. She was married to Moses Senyatsi Pela and blessed with one child. She started her career as a nurse at Philadelphia Hospital in Dennilton, Limpopo.
From there she worked at Far East Rand Hospital in Springs, Thelle Mogoerane where she occupied different positions, before retiring at Tembisa Hospital in November 2016. Since her retirement, she has been an active member and participant in church activities, including the construction of a few structures and in fundraising.
To her colleagues, she will be missed for all the advice that related to patient care, her ability to groom young nurses coming up in the profession, and her never-say-die attitude as it relates to the functions and capability of public health facilities.
To her family, a huge void has been left open. Someone who never allowed fear to control her thoughts. Ausi Maria, as she was fondly called, will be missed for her unending endeavour to see smiles on the faces of her family members. She loved her family.
She believed in the concept of mutual respect. She could never really hide her feelings, always said it as it was, often saying “Nna ke Mosotho, ditaba di mahlong”. A true definition of imbokodo !
Ausi Maria will be buried in Crystal Park, Benoni, tomorrow. She leaves behind her son Kgabo, daughter-in-law Mangaliso and grandson Senyatsi.