Social and Personal

ARAIEDLI. On April 25, at St James Capua Hospital, Sliema, to Hanen Ben Gamra and Jamel, God's precious gift of a first-born daughter - JIHENE. Thanks to the obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician, midwife Josephine Attard, nurse Jeanette Bugeja and to all the maternity staff at the hospital.

BUGEJA. On April 24, at St James Capua Hospital, Sliema, to Natasha and Alan, God's precious gift of a first-born son - COLE. Thanks to the obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician, midwife Lilian Azzopardi and to all the maternity staff at the hospital.

BUGEJA. On April 23, at St James Capua Hospital, Sliema, to Lara née Strickland and Julian, God's precious gift of a son. Thanks to all the maternity staff at the hospital.

CLINCH. On April 25, at St Philip's Hospital, to Daniela née Montebello and Jason, God's precious gift of a first-born son - ALEXIN. Thanks to the doctor and midwife Carmen Cannataci and all the staff at the hospital.

Marriages

Mr CARMEL FARRUGIA, B.Com, MIA, CPA, and Miss CLARE BUGEJA
The marriage took place on Saturday, April 21, at St Patrick's church, Sliema, between CARMEL, son of Mr and Mrs Renato Farrugia of San Gwann, and CLARE, daughter of Mr and Mrs Malcolm Bugeja of St Julian's. Fr Joe Farrugia, OSA, and Fr Paul Attard, OFM, celebrated nuptial Mass. Mrs Georgette Farrugia, B.Com., the groom's sister, and Matthew Bugeja, the bride's brother, were witnesses. The bride was attended by Rachel Mallia Borg, B.Sc. (Hons), and Alexia Callus, with Greta Pace Bonello as maid of honour. Jordan Farrugia was pageboy. The duties of best man were carried out by Mr Jeffrey Farrugia. Mr Daniel Bugeja and Mr Michael Darmanin, BA (Hons) Accty, acted as ushers. A reception was later held at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, St Julian's. The couple are spending their honeymoon in the Far East.

Obituary

CACHIA. On April 28, at Sir Paul Boffa Hospital, Agnes née Chetcuti, aged 77, of Paola, residing in Sta Lucija, passed peacefully away comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband Paul, her children Antoinette and her husband Norman Magri, Godwin and his family, Denis, and Ronald and his wife Fiona, her grandchildren Architect Etienne Magri and his wife Margaret, Danika and her husband Rodney Galea, Ryan and his fiancée Natasha, Clive and his fiancée Antonella, and Christabel and Aaron, her great-grandchild Abigail, her sisters Annie, and Carmen and her husband Carmel Caligari, her in-laws, among whom Rita, widow of her son Joe, Maudy, widow of her brother John, and Emanuel, widower of her sister Jessie, other relatives and friends. - R.I.P.
The funeral leaves Sir Paul Boffa Hospital tomorrow at 8 a.m. for Sta Lucija parish church, where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 8.30 a.m., followed by interment at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. The family regret they are unable to receive visitors.

DESIRA. On April 28, in Melbourne, Australia, FRANK, aged 72. Deeply mourned by his loving wife Carmen, née Cassar, his daughter Noelene, his sons Mark, Nick and Patrick, his sisters Terry and Violet, his brother Arthur, their respective spouses and families, other relatives and friends. A prayer is solicited.

SMART. On April 28, at St Luke's Hospital, Theresa, aged 70, passed peacefully away comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her loss her sons Andrew and his wife Mary, and Joseph and his wife Sandra, her grandchildren Leanne, Wayne, Keith and Neil, her brothers, sisters and their families, relatives and friends.
The funeral leaves St Luke's Hospital tomorrow at 2 p.m. for Christ the King parish church, Paola, where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 2.30 p.m., followed by interment at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. May God bless her with eternal life.

Appreciation - Chev. Paul J. Naudi

John A. Mizzi writes:

Few Civil Servants have had as varied a career as Paul Naudi, who died on April 16, at the age of 86. He started out as a teacher when he was 18 in 1938 and retired as his country's ambassador to Russia at the age of 81. His appointment to this post in 1998 was a fitting tribute to his experience and his long commitment to relations between the two countries, which he further enhanced, faithfully supported by his wife, the actress Karmen Azzopardi.

He saw the early war years as a clerical assistant at the Lyceum and in 1943 was appointed executive officer in the office of the Lieutenant-Governor. With the advent of self-government after the war he served as private secretary to a succession of Ministers of Education.

In 1955 he set up the Government Information Service and gradually created a new department that has survived progressively to this day. The esteem with which he was held by his staff all the long years he was head was shown by the attendance of so many former members at his funeral.

Besides serving as Director of Information, between 1955 and 1969, he also concurrently oversaw the Tourism service and the Government Printing Office. In 1969 he went as Commissioner-General of the Malta stand at Expo 70 in Japan and was instrumental in establishing relations between the two countries. This led to delegations visiting Malta to pay tribute to the Japanese seamen who had died here during the First World War and are buried at the military cemetery in Kalkara.

He served under five prime ministers and was a member of the delegations which accompanied them on official visits to Italy, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. He travelled on a number of diplomatic missions to various countries and chaired a number of Mixed Commissions which drew up Cultural agreements, and, on retiring from public service, headed a committee which set up the British Culture Association.

Chev. Naudi was appointed Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education in 1971 and retired from the public service in 1978. But that was not the end of his years of commitment. He was appointed to various government committees and was the general co-ordinator of the 25th anniversary celebrations of Malta's Independence in 1988-89, having 25 years earlier supervised the press arrangements, was the director of the press centre for the historic Malta summit between United States President George Bush, and the President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, in 1989, and was called upon to direct the press centre for the first visit of Pope John Paul II in 1990.

Throughout his long career, Chev. Naudi chaired the National Festivities Committee for several years, the UNESCO Commission, the Student-Workers Scheme and, in the very early years when serving in the Education Department, the children's cinema clubs as well as introducing and organising school broadcasting. He served on various commissions, including the Public Service Commission, National Day Celebrations, Adult Education Committee, and the Manoel Theatre.

In the early 1990s Chev. Naudi started his long and very close association with Russia, then still part of the Soviet Union, first as president of the Malta-USSR Friendship Society and later more closely as counsellor and honorary executive secretary of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture for five years, during the directorship of the talented Elizaveta Zolina.

Some 20 years earlier, in 1971, Chev. Naudi as Director of Information, had been asked by the Maltese Government to start discussions on the setting up of a Soviet Embassy in Malta and as a result of his visit to Moscow was able to organise a visit by members of the Bolshoi Ballet at an open-air festival at San Anton Gardens, the first of many visits by talented Russian groups and individuals.

Once established at the Russian Centre, Naudi embarked on a series of initiatives with Dr Zolina, including the organisation of the "Malta-Yalta-Malta" conference and he co-edited the publication on this meeting. He organised a Moscow Week in Malta and a Malta Week in Moscow with the participation of Maltese and Russian actors, musicians, dancers, painters and chefs, and assisted the Zejtun Band Club and various other groups to visit Moscow and St Petersburg. He was instrumental in helping Air Malta start its early charter flights to Moscow.

All this activity culminated in his appointment as Ambassador to Moscow at a time when relations between the two countries were somewhat strained and, with his tact and ability to take decisions, smoothed a few rough corners during his tenure.

Chev. Naudi was a knight of Magisterial Grace of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and held the rank of Commendatore. He was also a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

Paul Naudi leaves to mourn his loss his wife Karmen Azzopardi, his two sons Louis and Stephen, and his daughter Angele and their families.

Appreciation - Lance Bombardier Sadia Mizzi, AFM

Bombardier Mark Marlow, JNCO i/c AFM Gymnasium, 4th Regiment AFM, Luqa Barracks, writes:

Lance Bombardier Sadia Mizzi of the Armed Forces of Malta was known by all her service colleagues to be a young, energetic and kind-hearted soldier.

She was active in many sport disciplines within the army, as well as in civilian organisations. Sadia often inspired hope and instilled confidence in many with her bright and positive outlook on life. She contributed to soccer, netball, judo and other sports with excellent results and she was a committed referee and was close to obtaining the FIFA assistant-referee badge.

Sadia will be remembered as a free-spirited girl, with the face of an angel but the heart of a tiger. She will remain in the hearts of AFM soldiers apart from her family's. There are hundreds like myself in the AFM who have been lucky, since her early days in the Emergency Volunteer Reserve Force, to have served alongside her.

When the Lord called her to join his Legion's troops in heaven, we felt proud to contribute to a military funeral at Mosta parish church. It was a befitting final salute to a special soldier, who will be sorely missed but never forgotten.

Requiem Masses

On the fourth anniversary of the demise of Sister GISA ZAMMIT, RSCJ, a Mass for the repose of her soul will be said this morning 9 at Casa Leone chapel, St Julian's.

In Memoriam

ABELA. In loving memory of VIOLET, today being the fourth anniversary of her death. Never forgotten by her sons Ronald, Edward, John, Herbert, Peter and their respective families.

APAP. In loving memory of MARIA, née Bencini, on the 15th anniversary of her passing away. You are always in our thoughts and prayers. Nella, Manon, John and their families.

APPLEBY - EIRA. Lovingly remembered, today the 12th anniversary of her death, by her husband John, Simon and Katrine, Timothy and Hema. Always in our thoughts and prayers. Lord, grant her eternal rest.

CASSAR. Loving and unfading memories of JOSEPH (In-Nifs), today the eighth anniversary of his passing away. Always in our hearts, his wife Philippa, his children, Barbara, Harry, David, Kathleen, Paul, Alice, Charles, Grace and Michael, respective spouses and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Missing you is a heartache,
That will never go away.
Always in our thoughts and prayers. Your daughter Grace, Jan, Christopher, Nikki and Pieter-Jan. Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.

DARMANIN - DORIS. In loving and unfading memory of a dear mother, today the 22nd anniversary of her death. Fondly remembered by her family. May she rest in peace.

FSADNI. Loving and fondest memories of JOSEPH, on his fourth anniversary. Always in our thoughts and prayers. So deeply loved so sadly missed. His wife Sophie, his daughter Marina and husband Martin, grandchildren and family. Lord, grant him eternal rest.

LAURI - MARY. Cherished memories on the fifth anniversary of her passing away. Forever in our hearts, her husband Edwin, her children Stephanie, M'Christine and Carmine, their spouses, grandchildren, her brother, sisters, in-laws and family.

TORPIANO - JOSEPH A. In loving memory, on the 20th anniversary of his passing away. Winifred and his family.

XUEREB - Dr CHARLES XUEREB. Treasured memories of a beloved husband, father and grandfather on his 20th anniversary. His family.

XUEREB. In loving memory of MIGUEL, a dearest nephew and cousin, who lives forever in our thoughts and prayers. Auntie Therese, uncle Alberto, Gabriella, Michela, Alberto and Pia.

XUEREB - MIGUEL. In loving memory, today the second anniversary of his demise. "Life is that it was. The line has not snapped. Why should you be out of our thoughts simply because you are out of our sight? We are not far, just on the other side of the path." His grandmother Maria, uncle, aunts and cousins.

Zammit Gardens

Order flowers online. www.zammitgardens.com. Phone 2122-5744/9982-2369.

Pharmacies Open Today

9 a.m. - noon
New British Dispensary, 109/110, St John Street, Valletta;
Darwin Pharmacy, 152, St Joseph High Road, Hamrun;
St George's Pharmacy, 21, Main Street, Qormi;
Herba Pharmacy, 183, Main Street, Birkirkara;
O'Hea Pharmacy, 128, Manoel De Vilhena Street, Gzira;
Marc Pharmacy, 92, Triq il-Mensija, San Gwann;
St Francis Pharmacy, 293, Manwal Dimech Street, Sliema;
St Joseph Pharmacy, 172, Main Street, Lija;
Pillbox Pharmacy, 2, Triq il-Bjad, Naxxar;
Parkes Pharmacy, 582, St Paul Street, St Paul's Bay;
De Paola Pharmacy, 36, Antoine De Paule Square, Paola;
Vittoriosa Pharmacy, 9, Triq il-Mina il-Kbira, Vittoriosa;
St Anne Pharmacy, Triq il-Qaliet, Marsascala;
Gerada Pharmacy, 46, Mater Boni Consilii Street, Zejtun;
Central Pharmacy, 6, St Joseph Street, Luqa;
Santa Marija Pharmacy, 40, Bird Street, Zebbug;
Ideal Pharmacy, 63, Main Street, Rabat;
Palm Pharmacy, 2, Palm Street, Victoria, Gozo;
St John's Pharmacy, Independence Street, Xewkija.