Marie Kilpatrick Obituary

Marie Kilpatrick OAM was my Mum. She had tongue cancer removed in March this year. She had already beaten breast cancer months prior to this. The tougue cancer had the all clear September. I remember the day well and hugged her so much in joy. It was the day my brother Ross, sister Heather, dear old Dad Frank, my wife Suzanne and I thought we were going to have her around for many more years. The specialists kept doing biopsies just to make sure that it was gone. Four times they did this and nothing appeared and all looked good. But there was a fifth biopsy and it showed that the cancer had come back. My brave frail Mum didn't tell us that the last result was a bad one. She did it to protect us and to not spoil Christmas for us. She was so brave, what a secret for a little old lady to keep, it just proves how tough she was. Before I took her to the hospital I was in bits and had an asthma attack. Mum even in her situation was worried about me and told my sister later on that she was really worried about me and hoped I would be okay. What a marvel of a woman she was to think about someone else like that when she was virtually in her death bed. When I think back to the last couple of weeks there were tell tale signs of what was going to happen, she would more than usual say how much she loved us. I will never forget one of the last conversations I had with her, she looked up to me and said in her struggling voice "love you Bruce always". The night before she passed away, she was struggling to recognise us. I had brought her Saint Mary Mackillop pendant for her which she cherished (even though she wasn't even a Catholic). The pendant had been blessed by the Pope. Mum wasn't sure who I was at the time and kept repeating the story behind it and a photo of Saint Mary and a little angel pendant that my two lovely daughters and wonderful wife (my rock) had given her. Over and over she told the story and it broke my heart. But it was to be broken further when she was hungry and couldn't feed herself, so I spoon fed her, but she struggled and brought almost everything up. I was cracking up and then she realised who I was and apologised. The last words in the last meaningful conversation I had with her was "sorry I didn't recognise you all" and then "love you Bruce" The cancer was blocking her airways. She was in so much pain for the last two weeks. I am glad she is no longer in pain. Luckily all immediate family were present at Westmead Hospital when she passed away. She hung on just in time for my brother Ross to get to the hospital from Maitland. Ross played the Swedish national anthem (Mum's grandfather was Swedish) to her and she sort of rose up, she couldn't speak but I think she was acknowledging the fact she could hear it. Then not long after at 3:07pm on Monday the 20th December 2010 she left us to go to a better place. She was one in a million. Mother of 3, Grandmother of 5 and Great Grandmother of 1. Mum I will miss you so much, you will live on within all of us. Love you always Mum. xxxxxxxxxxxx from Bruce

Marie, was my cousin, and has written to me overseas and in Australia for over 30 years, I will miss her letters and the thought of her being with her family whom she loved dearly. Rest in Peace Marie, Loved Marlane.