Social and Personal

SPITERI. On May 25, MARIO, aged 68. Loved and remembered by his beloved wife Josephine and his son Marco, his daughter Claire and her husband Norbert Zahra, his precious grandchildren Jake and Neil, his sister Yvonne and her husband Sonny Degabriele, nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.
The funeral leaves St Luke's Hospital today at 2.30 p.m. for St Nicholas's priory church, Tarxien, where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 3 p.m. followed by interment at Tarxien Cemetery.
No flowers by request but donations to Dar tal-Providenza, Siggiewi, will be greatly appreciated.

Appreciation - Christina Muscat

Richard Davies, Christine Attard and Sandra Dingli, The Malta Geographical Society, write:

Christina Muscat always had a smile on her face and positive encouragement for all those whose lives she touched. It is hard to believe she will not join us again as a walks leader for the Malta Geographical Society where we discussed matters of a personal, cultural, environmental or religious nature - topics that were close to her heart. It was a pleasure to have Christina join us whenever we tried out the route for the walk as a small group. She was forever enthusiastic, motivated and helpful, always willing to share her expertise with others and to offer advice when asked.

Although Christina suffered a great deal, she was not one to complain and, as she endured her cruel illness, she bore her cross with courage and fortitude. Her exuberance and cheerfulness will be remembered by all who knew her, together with her enthusiasm to make the world a better place to live in.

Christina was born in Germany and spent some time in England before moving to Malta where she involved herself with different voluntary organisations to which she felt she could contribute.

Our loss is great, and things will never be the same without Christina, but she is at peace in a better world. Now that the shock of her loss is beginning to subside, we feel fortunate to have known her and to have learnt so much from her advice and example. Our thoughts are with her beloved husband, Frank, who will miss her dearly, but she will always be in our thoughts and prayers.

It was extremely moving to read the obituary which Christina herself wrote, received from Frank and reproduced below with his permission. It was written in her diary in Lent 1994, 13 years before she was called to the hereafter.

This is what Christina wrote:

Christina is now at peace and with God. She has been with us for the past 43 years and many of us had the opportunity to get to know her. She was quite a friendly and open person, happy to welcome people in her home for one of her healthy and imaginative meals. She enjoyed meeting and welcoming people from different parts of the world.

Christina was a very sociable person who loved to be involved in all sorts of activities especially those organised through the Church. She was a person who got along with young and old. She could be very childlike with a sense of mischief, joy and great enthusiasm for life. She was easy-going, not easily hurt, quite willing to listen to criticism and forgave quickly. She also made friends easily with older people, seeing some as her models of ageing.

In all her tendency to activity and sense of adventure and creativity, she had also developed the need to be still and to be fed by the Spirit of God. She loved her daily listening session with God as well as the days and weekends of retreats. She had this hunger for spiritual food and shared this with others by inviting them to meditate together and lead creative and alternative types of meditation and worship.

To her husband she was a loving and cheerful companion, usually very even-tempered, and appreciating his more stable and serious outlook on life. They had some very important things in common, like their love for people and their love for spiritual growth - they were a source of peace and counsel for many of their friends and acquaintances.

In Memoriam

CALLEJA. Loving memories of my dear husband FRANCIS JOSEPH, today the third anniversary of his passing away. Always in my thoughts and prayers. Your wife Tessie.

DELIA - CARMELO (Mémé). Cherished memories of our dear brother on his fourth anniversary. May God grant him eternal rest.

FARRUGIA. In loving memory of ELVIA, a loving mother and grandmother who departed this life on May 26, 1966. Lovingly remembered by her daughters, son-in-law and grandchildren.

FITENI - HENRY. Our much loved father and grandfather, on the 38th anniversary of his death, and EDWARD, a beloved brother and uncle, on the 35th anniversary of his death tomorrow, are remembered now and always with gratitude and love. Missed by Madeleine, George and their beloved Jason and Marcus Cauchi. Lord, grant them eternal peace.

FORMOSA. In ever loving and cherished memories of our dearest mother MINNIE on the second anniversary of her passing away. Her children Victoria, David and Stephen, their spouses and her grandchildren. Lord, grant her eternal rest.

GARRONI. Fondest memories of our dear friend MARIA. Anne, Tony and family.

GARRONI. Cherished and unfading memories of my dearly loved sister MARIA, née Cassar, who went to a much better life 20 years ago today. Forever in my prayerful thoughts. Doris.

GARRONI - MARIA. In loving memory, on your 20th anniversary. Antoinette and John.

JACONO - ROLAND. In loving memory of my brother on the fifth anniversary of his demise. A Mass for the repose of his soul will be said tomorrow at 6.30 p.m. at St Patrick's church, Sliema.

LEONE GANADO - THERESA (Tessy), née Randon. Treasured memories of a most beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, today the fifth anniversary of her demise. Always in our thoughts and prayers. Your sons, daughter and their families. Lord, grant her eternal rest. Today's 6 p.m. Mass at St John of the Cross parish church, Ta' Xbiex, will be offered for the repose of her soul.

MICALLEF. Treasured memories of EDMOND W., a beloved husband, father and nannu, on the fifth anniversary of his death. Fondly remembered by his wife Maria, his children Philip, David, Sandra, Robert and Christopher, their respective spouses and his 10 grandchildren. Always in our thoughts and prayers. A Mass for the repose of his soul will be celebrated on May 28 at 7 p.m. at St Francis convent chapel, St Francis Street, Balzan. The attendance of relatives and friends will be appreciated.

VELLA LAURENTI. Everlasting memories of our dear mother ANTONIA on the fifth anniversary of her demise. Remembered with affection. Her children.

VELLA LAURENTI. Treasured memories of our dear ANTONIA, today the fifth anniversary of her demise. Fondly remembered by her son John Vella Laurenti, her daughter Monica and the Pace Gouder family. The 6.30 p.m. Mass at Balluta parish church will be offered for the repose of her soul.

Zammit Gardens

Say it with flowers. www.zammitgardens.com Phone 2122 5744/9982 2369.

Scouts Reunion

The Marsa Scouts will be holding a reunion for old members at the Rinella Scouts Centre between June 15 and 17. There will be tent pitching, cooking, drill, canoeing, games and pioneering among other activities. Bookings can be made by June 6 on 2123 7955 or by sending an e-mail to marscout@maltanet.net.

US Embassy

The American Embassy will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day, an American national holiday. It will resume normal business hours on Tuesday.

Child Abuse

Police Inspector Louise Calleja from the fraud section will be giving a talk on Child Abuse at the National Council of Women Centre, in Blata l-Bajda, on Friday at 6 p.m. Statistics indicate there were 892 cases of child abuse in 2004. Everyone is invited to attend. There will be a registration fee of Lm1.

What's On Today

Exhibitions
• At the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Auberge d'Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta, Malta/Cyprus ceramics exhibition.
• At the Inquisitor's Palace, Vittoriosa, seven works in salt showing works by Caravaggio.
• At the Inquisitor's Palace, Vittoriosa, an exhibition about Jesuit ethnographer and archaeologist Fr Emmanuel Magri.
• At the National Museum of Archaeology, Republic Street, Valletta, Silent Warriors: Chinese Terracotta Soldiers.
• At the Museum of Fine Arts, South Street, Valletta, drawings by Caesar Attard.
• At the Inquisitor's Palace, Vittoriosa, sculptures by Chris Ebejer.

Pharmacies Open Tomorrow

9 a.m. - noon
St Publius Pharmacy, 48, Triq il-Miratur, Floriana;
Trinity Pharmacy, 32, Marsa Road, Marsa;
Drugshop Dispensary, De La Cruz Avenue, Qormi;
St Anne Pharmacy, 41, St Helen Square, Birkirkara;
St Luke Pharmacy, St Luke's Road, Pieta';
Potter Chemists Ltd, Wilga Street, Paceville, St Julian's;
Edward's Pharmacy, 115, Manwel Dimech Street, Sliema;
Medica Pharmacy, Naxxar Road, Balzan;
St Mary Pharmacy, 14, Rotunda Square, Mosta;
Karizia Drugstore, 87, George Borg Olivier Street, Mellieha;
Fleming Pharmacy, 65, Zabbar Road, Paola;
Verdala Pharmacy, 57, Triq il-Gendus, Cospicua;
Polymer Pharmacy, Triq ix-Xghajra, Zabbar;
Gudja Pharmacy, 25, St Cyrus Street, Gudja;
Mqabba Central Pharmacy, 5, St Catherine Street, Mqabba;
Menelo Pharmacy, Dr Nikola Zammit Street, Siggiewi;
Healthwise Pharmacy, 36, Francesco Zammit Street, Dingli;
Castle Pharmacy, 2, Indipendence Square, Victoria;
Pisani Pharmacy, New Building, Sannat Road, Sannat.