Family hopes to scatter ashes
THE ashes of three Queensburgh family members who died of Covid-19 have remained on a friend's table for almost two years.
A relative in New Zealand is hoping to raise enough money to travel to the country for a remembrance service and to scatter all the ashes at the beach.
Sue-ellen Smith is desperate for an opportunity to say goodbye to her sister Angela, brother-in-law Greg and niece Zoë Freshwater and has started a fund raiser since her family can’t afford the flights.
Greg, Angela and Zoë fell ill at the beginning of December 2020 and their Covid-19 results were confirmed positive on December 16. Their health deteriorated rapidly leading to all three dying soon after.
Greg died on December 23 followed by his daughter on December 26, while his wife succumbed to the virus on December 29. Months prior to her death, Zoë had been preparing for her wedding to her childhood sweetheart which was to take place on December 19, 2020.
“She was going to get married on my birthday. It was very sad especially because they had been together since high school and they never got married,” said Smith. “The last time I was with them was just before lockdown in March of that year. I was with them for the month that I was in the country and I was very fortunate to have had that special time with them.”
Smith said the family had lived together in a flat and after they had died, Zoë’s fiancé had to step in to assist with the clearing out and cleaning of the flat since no other close family member could assist.
“Her fiancé and his mother stepped in and they did everything they could at the time. It was tough but he had to sort their whole lives,” she said. “A very sad time to do that for three people that you loved and this has been heavy on him.”
When the family members were cremated, the fiancé kept the ashes with the hopes that Smith would arrive in the country to say her goodbyes. But almost two years later, the ashes remain on his table.
“I would love to get all my family from New Zealand to Durban, as well as inviting friends from Johannesburg to the beach to scatter the ashes,” said Smith.