Fijian Woman Dies In Samoa On Christmas Day
My mother was always patient, spoke and joked to everyone, always smiling. She was the one who brought us up.
Monday 28 December 2020 | 17:54
My happiness turned into sorrow as I was relayed the message of my mother’s death, says Mere Vakatalemeke.
Ms Vakatalemeke’s mother, Vani Ravula, passed away in Samoa on Christmas Day.
Ms Ravula was 49. The mother of eight was from Suvavou Village in Rewa.
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She worked as a maid for Richeward and Talahiva Hill.
“I last spoke to my mother on Christmas morning around 7 o’clock,” Ms Vakatalemeke said.
“She called me to wish us Merry Christmas and asked to speak to my younger brother. She then said she would call again in the afternoon.
“In the afternoon, I saw an incoming call from my mother's Messenger, my happiness turned into sorrow as her boss relayed the message to me.
“Her boss said mum’s stomach was paining, and they took her to the hospital where she passed away.”
Efforts to get a comment from her employer were unsuccessful.
Ms Vakatalemeke said it was hard for her family to accept the news.
“My mother was always patient, spoke and joked to everyone, always smiling. She was the one who brought us up.
“I cried and asked her not to go to Samoa, just to work in Fiji, and she said I am going to support you all.”
She said her mother was supposed to visit Fiji this year, but couldn’t because of COVID-19 restrictions.
A close friend of the deceased, who lives in Samoa, said Ms Ravula passed away around 7:15pm.
“They were drinking kava at a Fijian family’s home with other Fijian women when she died,” said the close friend, who spoke on the condition of not being identified.
“She had attended the Christmas Day church service before joining the festivities.
“It was all too sudden. She called the lady of the house twice before she collapsed and started frothing at the mouth.
“The women had tried to resuscitate her, but it was too late, she had already passed away.”
Samoa Fijian Community church elder Sefanaia Nawadra said: “The family wants the body to be flown over to Fiji.
“So far nothing has been said by her employers about any funeral arrangements.
“I have contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Fiji on procedures of flying over the body given the regulations in place, and also COVID-19 restrictions.
“They will contact the Ministry of Health in Fiji before a decision can be made.”
Ms Ravula is survived by her eight children and four grandchildren.
Feedback: ivamere.nataro@fijisun.com.fj
