BEZZINA. On December 15, at Mater Dei Hospital, to Cinzia née Bonello Bianco and Jonathan, God's precious gift of a second-born son - BENJAMIN, brother to Jayden. Thanks to midwife Alexia Sciberras, the doctor and all the maternity staff.
BUGEJA. On December 6, at Gozo General Hospital, to Miriam née Sultana and Paul, God's precious gift of a daughter - ELENA, a very welcome sister to Martha.
GALEA. On December 7, at Mater Dei Hospital, to Christine née Cuschieri and Steffan, God's precious gift of a second-born son - SAMUEL, a most welcome brother to Benjamin. Thanks be to God.
KOEUNE. On December 17, at St James Capua Hospital, Sliema, to Rebecca née Ransley and Olivier, God's precious gift of a son - JAMES. Thanks to the obstetrician and to all the maternity staff at the hospital.
MICALLEF. On December 11, at Mater Dei Hospital, to Joanna née Ghigo and Ian, God's precious gift of a daughter - MARIA, a most welcome sister to Zacharias and Gabriel. Deo gratias et Mariae. Special thanks to all the hospital staff.
VELLA. On December 19, at St James Capua Hospital, Sliema, to Françoise née Tonna and Dennis, God's precious gift of a daughter - SEMILIAMA, a most welcome sister to Delilah. Thanks to the obstetrician, midwife Carmen Scerri and to all the maternity staff at the hospital.
XUEREB. On December 18, at St Philip's Hospital, to Julie née Lowell and Michael, God's precious gift of a first-born daughter - SOPHIE. Thanks to Our Lady. Special thanks to the staff at gynae, the obstetrician, all the midwives and Carmen Cannataci.
Birthday greetings
Congratulations JOHN GRECH on your 73rd birthday. Best wishes from your wife Frida, sons Stephen and his wife Maria, Chris and his wife Catherine and grandchildren Andrea, Rachelle, Gillian and baby Kyle.
Sapphire wedding
Mr MARIO A. GATT and Ms MARIE S. GANADO
The marriage took place on December 27, 1964, at St Paul's Grotto, Rabat. Fr Ludovico Boffa, OP, officiated. Congratulations and may God bless you both, from all the family.
Obituary
CHIRCOP. On December 25, at Zammit Clapp Hospital, JOSEPH, aged 78, passed peacefully away comforted by the rites of Holy Church. He leaves to mourn his loss his wife Cettina née Mifsud, his daughters RoseMarie, Bernardette, Angele and her husband Philip Micallef, his grandchildren Timothy and Martina, his brothers Charles and his wife Doris of Australia, Edwin and his wife Olga, George, his sister Gladys and her husband Bernard of the UK, in-laws, nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends. The funeral leaves Zammit Clapp Hospital tomorrow at 8 a.m. for Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish church, Balluta, where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 8.30 a.m. followed by interment at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery (entrance at top gate). May the Lord grant him eternal rest.
GILSON. On December 20, in Mulgrave, Australia, JOHN of Ħamrun, aged 67, passed peacefully away, comforted by the rites of Holy Church. He leaves to mourn his loss his beloved wife Theresa, his children Edward and Fiona, Charles and Melissa, Marika and Ray, Tania, Kathryn and David, his grandchildren Hayley, Joshua, Liam, Bronte, Ashliegh, Joel, Alana and Sienna, his brothers and sisters, in-laws, nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends. Lord, grant him eternal rest.
PORTELLI. On December 24, SAVIOUR (former band master) aged 59, passed away. He leaves to mourn his loss his wife Rita, his daughetrs Charmaine and her husband Joseph and Mary Rose and her husband Maximilian, his grandchildren Gianluca and Alessandro, his mother Carmela, his brother and sister, his brothers-in-law, other relatives and friends. The funeral leaves Mater Dei Hospital tomorrow at 12.45 p.m. for Gżira Strand, from where it will proceed to Gżira parish church, accompanied by the band. Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 2.30 p.m. followed by interment at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to Dar tal-Providenza, Siġġiewi, will be greatly appreciated. Lord, grant him eternal rest.
PORTANIER. On December 25, at Mater Dei Hospital, MIRANDA née Camilleri (k/a Marianne), of Ta' Xbiex, passed peacefully away comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her irreparable loss her beloved husband Joseph, her treasured daughters Marie Therese and her husband Ray Pace, Dorianne and her husband Hubert Brincat, her grandchildren Martina, Marc, Maria, Elena and Mariella, her brothers and sisters Joe, Paul and Lucy and their spouses, all of Australia, Marcelle and her husband Joe Bonello, her in-laws Mary and Josephine Camilleri, Francis and Victor Portanier and their spouses, nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends. The funeral leaves Mater Dei Hospital tomorrow at 2 p.m. for Msida parish church where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 2.30 p.m. followed by interment at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to Dar tal-Providenza, Siġġiewi will be appreciated. Lord, grant her eternal rest.
WILLIAMS. On December 21, at East Surrey Hospital, UK, OLIVE, passed away peacefully. Beloved mother of Mrs Hilary Felice.
Requiem masses
Tomorrow's 6.45 p.m. Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel church, Paceville, will be offered for the repose of the soul of MARCELINE BONNICI on the second anniversary of her passing away.
On the fourth anniversary of the passing away of Comm. FRANCO COMODINI, a Mass for the repose of his soul will be celebrated today at 11 a.m. at St James church (Italian community), Merchants Street, Valletta. The attendance of relatives and friends will be appreciated.
In memoriam
AGIUS FERRANTE. In loving memory of ALBERT on the 5th anniversary of his death. His family.
AMODEO - YVONNE. It is seven years since she left us, but her love and warmth are with us always and give us strength at all times. Please remember her in your prayers. Muffy, Patt and Francesca.
ATTARD - GODFREY. Today the seventh anniversary of his demise. Always in our thoughts and prayers. His wife and children.
BONELLO - JOAN. Today the fifth anniversary of her death. Lovingly remembered by her sons Alan and his wife Patricia, Adrian and his wife Sylvana and their children Suzannah and John. May the Lord grant her eternal rest.
BORG. Cherished memories of our dearest mother ERSILIA, next Wednesday the 16th anniversary of her demise. Always in our prayers. Helen, husband Vincent and family.
CAMENZULI. In ever loving memory of THERESA, today the 26th anniversary of her death. Remembered by her son Charles, his wife Anna, Robert and Andrea and her daughter Mary Anne.
CAMILLERI. In everlasting memory of our beloved mother EVELYN on the eighth anniversary of her demise. Forever in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. Mary Rose, Margaret and Elizabeth.
CAMILLERI - FREDERICK, 1960-1993. In loving memory of his parting away to a better life. We miss him very much and always pray to the Lord to hold him in His loving arms. His father and mother, sisters and brothers-in-law.
CAMILLERI FLORES. In loving memory of MOLLIE on the 10th anniversary of her death. Fondly remembered by her son and daughter, brother, relatives and friends.
COMODINI - Comm. FRANCO COMODINI. Treasured, precious memories of a loving and unique husband, caring father and beloved grandfather on the fourth anniversary of his meeting with the Lord. Forever missed, forever loved, forever living in the hearts of his loving wife Mary, his children Alessandro and Colinda, Elena and Mauro, Vladimiro and Therèse and grandchildren Riccardo, Deliana, Alessia, Gianluca and Laura.
Our thoughts of you
Still bring a tear
A silent wish
That you were here
You left a place
No one can fill
We love you Franco
And always will.
May he rest in the loving arms of the Lord.
FENECH. In loving memory of ALBERT and EMILIE on their 12th and eighth anniversary respectively. Fondly remembered and still very much missed by their children Priscilla, Maureen and Albert and their families. A prayer is solicited.
GRECH - KARIN. Forever in our thoughts and prayers. Auntie Val and family.
MIFSUD - RICHARD. On the second anniversary of his demise. Deeply missed by his wife Marielouise, children Malcolm and his wife Greta, Cedric, and his grandchildren Julian and Timothy. A prayer is kindly solicited.
MIFSUD - ROSARIO. On the sixth anniversary of his demise. Fondly remembered by Antoine, Angele, Vicky and their families. A prayer is solicited.
PULLICINO - CARMEN. Treasured memories of a beloved wife, mother and grandmother on the 16th anniversary of her demise. Always in our thoughts and prayers. Her husband Joe, her children Marvy, Joelle and her husband Henry and grandchildren. Dear Lord, grant her eternal rest.
PULLICINO - JOHN. Treasured memories of a loving father and grandfather. Always in our thoughts and prayers. Philip, Raphael, in-laws and grandchildren.
ZAMMIT - JOSEPH. Treasured and unforgettable memories of a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who departed this life five years ago. So lovingly remembered by his wife Margaret, his daughters Victoria, Roberta and Stefanya and their families. Lord, grant him eternal rest.
Appreciation - Prof. Edwin Busuttil
Ex-student magistrate Dr Lawrence Quintano writes:
Dear Prof. Busuttil,
When you returned my phone call eight weeks ago, I never thought I would be hearing your voice for the last time. Nor did I think that my letter to you was a valedictory one.
As soon as I heard you had passed away, my mind could not help going back to your lecturing days.
As you would have put it, 'much water has passed under the bridge' since then, but the beautiful memories have not faded.
Nor have the red copybooks with your lecture notes gone away.
They still stand in perfect order with a contents page indicating the date and the title of the lecture.
You may be surprised that these notes were my point of departure for 23 years at the Attorney General's office.
As I had to deal with constitutional and international law - both private and public - I had to consult them time and again before reading the latest editions of the manuals on international law, articles in law journals or the most recent human rights' case law.
And your voice drawled in my ears whenever I was advising in several countries about graves, successions, marriage in an embassy or an extradition agreement.
Sometimes it also echoed in my mind while hammering out articles in multilateral treaties or negotiating an apparently harmless bilateral, as points from your lectures haunted me with a vengeance.
When I failed to trace a copy of my own LL.D. thesis, I turned to the pencil notes I had discussed with you when you were my tutor and the answer was there in all its glory.
The 'basic point' - to which you used to refer us - still stands, and I could go on writing with peace of mind.
I understand you must have felt proud when you met two of your ex-students before the final submissions in Malta's first case before the European Court of Human Rights.
You had to appear on behalf of the Commission and so you had to prepare a memorandum.
It was our moment of triumph as, like two children plotting mischief on their own professor, we murmured, "Finally, Professor Busuttil, it is we who have given you an assignment." You took the remark with grace and smiled.
Of course, I shall treasure your final note most of all. I have shown my children where the copy lies now so that when it is my turn to go they can have something with which to remember a gentleman like you.
May God grant you eternal rest.
Appreciation - Josette Leone-Ganado
Kevin Papagiorcopulo writes:
The news of Josette Leone-Ganado's demise came as no surprise.
Undoubtedly for me as a friend, and so much more for her family, the void she left behind will never be filled. The few lines below are not just an appreciation, but a testimony of a woman who knew, loved and lived for Jesus.
I first got to know Josette just over 10 years ago when I joined Marana Tha' Community. In her and her family, the presence of the living God I eventually got to know was evident.
She witnessed Christ in her family, in her community, in the endless list of couples - who, in the silence of her home, she would help overcome difficult situations - in the students she taught at St Joseph School, Sliema, in all the children to whom she lovingly gave a solid pastoral formation which they still reap today as adults, and in all those she met.
Her priorities, however, were never mistaken, with her family always taking precedence. She did not simply preach, but lived the values of the Gospel of Christ.
Many couples, including myself and my wife during our preparation for marriage, sought her priceless advice, which helped so many like us build their 'house' on solid ground. Her white sitting room sofa was often something I joked about. It represented, however, the love, dedication and energy she selflessly gave to help others not only overcome moments of trial but also discover in simple ways Jesus' love for each one.
Throughout her life, even through the difficult moments she faced, she truly discovered God's wisdom, which she wisely used for His glory.
St Paul rightly says that 'God chooses those who by human standards are fools to shame the wise' (1 Cor 1:27), for us to discover that 'the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God stronger than man's strength' (1 Corinthians 1:25).
May these simple words continue to witness the life in Jesus which she endlessly spoke out, to bring souls to the Lord. And as my friend from Australia said: "Heaven has won another wonderful Saint!"
Josette, your testimony will live on.
Sidonia Enterprises Ltd.
Closed for Christmas holidays. Re-opening on January 4.
Season's greetings
Costantino and Mary Prosperi will not be sending Christmas cards this year. They would like to take the opportunity to wish all their relatives a holy and happy Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year.