Thursday 19th November 2020

I had a sad Thursday evening. I decided to find out why my dear family friend, Mrs. Plundrakova, was not picking up her mobile phone.  I called the Home for the Elderly, where she was staying. When I asked the receptionist if I could talk to her on the phone she said: “Unfortunately I can’t help you and no you can’t talk to her, she died about 14 days ago.” 4.11.2020.

I didn’t expect that, even though my mummy told me that when she talked to her on the phone recently, she had to explain to her several times who she was, and she already felt a little confused, I was surprised to hear that. 

Unpleasant phone call. I haven’t had a nice relationship with death since my dad died 12 years ago.

I couldn’t sleep that night. I looked at some family photos for a long time and on the balcony in the dark I reminisced and was sorry that I would not gain any further knowledge or life wisdom from my favorite lady.

Mrs. Plundrakova lived in Olomouc and I lodged with her for one year when I was in my second year at university as I didn’t qualify for halls. We knew her through my father’s sister as they were together in Cambodia in the 80’s with the Red Cross mission, building hospitals and educating about hygiene. She was a microbiologist and an immunologist, my aunt was a midwife.

 Their only son died, at the age of 18, in his first year of medial school from leukemia. She lost her husband a couple of years into retirement. She was a pleasant, well-read, strong woman, with whom I liked to spend time with. She was a strong personality with her heart in the right place; she would give everything she could and help whereever she could.

In July 2019, I visited her with my mum and children, she still lived at home, but a few months after that she was moved to a senior home, where they took care of her as her legs stopped working. I am very glad that I was able to visit her and spent time in her company. I liked how she interpreted the stories from the medical environment and all the stories how she became involved in the compulsory vaccination program in the then Czechoslovak Republic.

An amazing woman who did not have an easy life, but was still positive and full of energy until the end of her 88th year. We can only rejoice that she has enriched our lives and now she is in heaven with her son and husband, where they have been waiting patiently for her.

Until we meet again. 

Rennie