A TRIBUTE TO CORINNE SARSTEDT-McCARTHY BY HER DAUGHTER, RHYLLIS
Corinne Mary Sarstedt-McCarthy Long ago, far away,
life was clear… Remember, life is never as it seems, Remember. |
The McCarthy family have been part of our Anglo Indian Recreational Club from its very inception all those many years ago. Rhyllis was on the Executive Committee, and her Dad and Mum were enthusiastic and regular attendees at all our functions through the years.
Sadly Rowland ("Mac") passed away last January (2019) and Corinne left us on March 24th this year.
Corinne will be remembered by all who knew her, as a gentle, soft-spoken person with a kindly smile. We will miss her very much.
Rhyllis sent me a brief glimpse into her Mum's life. Her message closed with a very moving last line. Here it is:
* * * * *
Rhyllis: "Don't know where to start. As you know, Mum was a very private person, so I'll just give you the basics.
She was the sixth child – of ten! Being the first girl in the family, she was of course, spoiled but didn't grow into a tomboy even though there were five older brothers. Instead, Mum was the more nurturing type and became ‘mother hen'.
Unlike her siblings, Mum was the quiet one and she always said – her moto was “to see all, hear all but say damn all” ! The only time she used the “D” word.
Mum met Dad in 1945/46. He was her brother Lenny's friend. When Dad realized that Lenny had a younger sis, he hung around the D'Cruz home a lot, and that's where he developed a palate for hot, spicy curries – Calcutta style.
Well, after ogling each other for a while, Dad drummed up the courage and started flirting by helping Mum with her homework! Yeah, she was still in school!
One thing led to another and in '47 they were engaged and in '51 they were happily married. Yes, they went through a few years of hardship but by the 60's, they were well established and content. In '79 they decided to migrate to Canada; Mum got a job and retired in '95 from the Cancer Control Agency.
In 2018, Mum and Dad celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on Boxing Day. Dad passed away peacefully, shortly after.
That, however, was the beginning of the end. Mum started deteriorating both physically and mentally. She had heart failure due to pneumonia and after a couple of months at VGH and UBC Rehab, Mum came home under palliative care and slipped away peacefully this day [24th]last week.
Mama was there when I first opened my eyes and I was there when she closed hers."