Social and Personal

ARENDS-HARDING. On November 16, at St James Capua Hospital, to Steph and Andre, the precious gift of a daughter - SOPHIE ALEXANDRA. Thanks to the excellent midwife and nursing officer for the care received.

BARBU. On November 12, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Sibyl née Mifsud and Nick, God's precious gift of a first-born daughter - CHLOE. Special thanks to midwife Thresanne Howland and all the staff at the SCBU for their excellent care and attention.

BONDIN. On November 20, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, God presented Ruth née Galea St. John and her husband Claudio with the lovely gift of a healthy baby boy - JULIAN. Heartfelt thanks to all our family and friends for the continuous support and to the maternity wards at Karin Grech Hospital, especially to midwife Maria Cutajar.

BUSUTTIL. On November 18, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Christine née Micallef and Billy, a son - MILES, a welcome brother to Tammy.

CREMONA. On October 22, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Nicolette Magri Cremona and Stefano, God's precious gift of a first-born son - LUIGI. Special thanks to midwife Michelle Farrugia and all the maternity staff for their care and attention.

CREMONA. On October 27, at Gozo General Hospital, to Louise née Debono and Emanuel, God's precious gift of a second son - ANTON, a birthday gift to his brother Oliver. Thanks be to God and Mary. Special thanks to the doctor and midwife Mary Rose.

CUTAJAR. On November 6, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Josephine née Farrugia and Godfrey, God's precious gift of a first-born daughter - MELANIE. Special thanks to all the staff at the maternity wing.

DARMANIN. On November 18, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Elizabeth née Attard Montalto and Edward, God's precious gift of a first-born daughter - REBECCA. Deo gratias et Mariae. Special thanks to all the staff at the maternity wards for their dedication.

MICALLEF. On November 14, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Louise née Xuereb and Hermann, God's precious gift of a first-born daughter - GRETA LIESL. Special thanks to midwife Marisa Bezzina and the maternity for their dedication and care.

MIZZI. On November 6, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Claire née Debattista and Stephen, God's precious gift of a first-born daughter - LAURA. Deo gratias et Mariae. Special thanks to all the staff at the ante-natal, labour and post-natal wards, especially to midwife Catherine Bonnici.

PACE. On August 17, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Denise née Porter and Alexander, God's precious gift of a daughter - FRANCESCA MARIA, a most welcome sister to Martina. Thanks be to God and Our Lady. Special, heartfelt thanks to all the consultants, doctors, midwives and nurses at the labour and post-natal wards and at the SCBU, for their excellent care, attention and dedication.

TURNER. On November 14, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Lucienne née Muscat and Kenneth, God's precious gift of a daughter - LARA MARIE. Thanks be to God and Our Lady. Our gratitude to all the staff at the maternity wing.

VAN GURCHOM. On November 14, at St Philip's Hospital, to Josian née Vella and Mickel, God's precious gift of a son - JAKE, a welcome brother to Dayna. Thanks to all the staff at St Philip's for their dedication.

Engagements

Mr KYLE HOUGHTON and Ms JANINE DARMANIN, B.Com. (Hons.)
The engagement is announced between KYLE, son of Mr and Mrs J. Houghton of San Pawl tat-Targa, and JANINE, daughter of Mr and Mrs A. Darmanin of Ta' Xbiex. Fr Mario Borg, OCD, blessed the couple.

Silver Wedding

Mr FRANS FELICE and Miss MARIA DOLORES CUSCHIERI
The marriage took place on Saturday, November 25, 1978, at St Bartholomew's parish church, Gharghur. Fr Emanuel Agius officiated. Wishing you many more years of good health and happiness. With fondest love and gratitude from your children Ranier, Josef and Alexia.

Golden Wedding

Mr CHARLES CACCIOTTOLO and Miss AMY CARUANA
The marriage took place on November 21, 1953, at St Lawrence parish church, Vittoriosa. Wishing you many more years of happiness and good health. With fondest love and gratitude from Maria and Mario, Tania and Joe, Lawrence and Tania and your beloved grand-daughters Caroline and Michael and Roberta. God bless you both.

Obituary

AGIUS. On November 21, at St Luke's Hospital, Helen, aged 85, residing in Qormi, passed peacefully away, comforted by the rites of the Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband George, her children Josephine and her husband George Casha, Fr Robert, OFM Conv., Tony and his wife Jessie, Mary, Michelle and her husband Noel Bartolo, her grandchildren Stephen, Geoffrey, Christopher and Mariel, her sister Dovina Saliba, her brothers Wistin and Fr Sebastian Scicluna, other relatives and friends. - R.I.P
The funeral leaves St Luke's Hospital today at 1.45 p.m. for St Sebastian parish church, Qormi, where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 2.30 p.m., followed by the interment at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to Dar tal-Kleru would be greatly appreciated. The family regret they are unable to receive visitors.

BURGESS. James (Big Jim) passed way on November 5 after a short illness in the UK, aged 68, beloved husband of Alex, loving dad and granddad to all his children and grandchildren in the UK and Malta. Will be sorely missed by all.
Memorial service will be held at Mellieha Sanctuary on Wednesday at 10.30 a.m. Cash donations in aid of Hal Far Disabled by Accident.

COMPTON. On November 19, in Melbourne, Australia, GEORGE, aged 91, passed peacefully away, comforted by the rites of Holy Church, with his family at his side. Born in Floriana on March 10, 1912, the son of William and Lucy Compton née Grech, and beloved husband of Victoria née Buhagiar of Xaghra. Mourned by his children in Australia, Denis, Joyce, Les and Lucille and their families, his nephew in the USA, Sam and his family, and his sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and his many nieces and nephews in Malta and Gozo and their families. He courageously made one last trip back to Malta and Gozo four months ago. His sons and daughters are forever grateful to all his relatives who made his final visit what he wanted it to be.

LA FERLA. On November 6, in Canada, AGNES (Bipsy) née Parnis England, widow of John, passed peacefully away, aged 89. She leaves to mourn her loss her son Joseph and his wife Gertrude, her son David also living in Canada, her nephews and nieces in Malta and Germany, other relatives and friends.

SCIBERRAS. On November 21, at St Luke's Hospital, Peter Paul (ex- teacher), aged 62, born in Mqabba and residing at Paola, passed peacefully away, comforted by the rites of Holy Church. He leaves to morn his loss his brother Chev. Charles (former mayor of St Julian's) and his wife Yvonne, his sister Mary Knight of UK, Philip Borg Manchè, widower of his sister Rita, his nephews and nieces Canon Etienne, Owen, David, Treesan, Joanna, Conrad, David and Francesca, other relatives and friends. - R.I.P.
The funeral leaves St Luke's Hospital tomorrow at 8 a.m. for Christ the King parish church, Paola, where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 8.30 a.m., followed by the interment at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to Dar tal-Providenza, Siggiewi, will be greatly appreciated.

SYCKELMOORE. On March 3, Captain JOSEPH ROBERT FRANCIS PAUL SYCKELMOORE, Royal Malta Artillery (Ret'd), aged 86, former schoolmaster, the Lyceum, Hamrun (1952-1977).
Funeral service took place at Whitstable Cemetery Catholic Plot, Whitstable, Kent, England, on March 12.

Appreciation - Dr Elizaveta Zolina

Judge Giovanni Bonello writes from Strasbourg:

Most of those whose paths converged with Liza Zolina's ended up falling mildly in love with her. She radiated grace. In her presence, thinking positive became almost an obligation. I have met several inspirational beings, but Liza could have taught many of them some lessons.

I came to know Liza shortly after she took up duties in Malta. We got together for a research project on the historical relations between our island and Russia through the centuries. At first fuelled by moderate ambition, the concept then grew and grew unabashed, until the suspicion gripped me that it had acquired an internal life of its own - it just would not stop burgeoning. However much its weight increased, Liza carried it on her shoulders with a frail smile. That smile caged the strength of a colossus.

Liza worshipped Malta. Less, perhaps, the Maltese, the sun and the beaches, or our cavalier contempt for the sanctuaries of memory. She relished the memory itself. For her, history was the past; more importantly it was the present and the future.

Coming from a land so vast, she attuned with astonishing humour and poise to this sliver of desiccated rock, brutal in summer, loveless in winter. We did not need to offer her honorary citizenship. This grew irresistibly in her spirit.

If anyone helped bring down the barriers between Maltese prejudice and the ghosts of the Communist curse, it was Liza. The Maltese were probably endowed with the most virulent anti-Communist antibodies anywhere in Europe. They feared anything Russian as contagious and despicable - Russians were Communists and therefore children of Satan. Liza's magic did as much to dispel that mental entrenchment in our community as the Bush-Gorbachev meeting in that fateful storm.

Liza's soul harboured a consummate faith. Nothing ostentatious, nothing assertive; just the warm comfort of a primordial belief in God that transcends the irrational constraints of rationality. She chose to live in the 16th century house of Sir Oliver Starkey in Valletta. His spirit, she sensed, roamed restless at night, a presence she swore was plaintive and telling. She established a foundation of Masses for the repose of his soul.

I bet she needs no foundation for the repose of hers.

Appreciation - Eric Zammit, B.Pharm.

Professor Mario Buhagiar writes:

I write this appreciation in a state of shock and disbelief that a life that brought so much tender affection and joy to so many has been cut short with such brutal suddenness.

Eric Zammit, who passed away early last Wednesday, aged 58, was a man who effortlessly endeared himself to all who had the privilege of getting to know him whether professionally or socially. He was a dedicated pharmacist whose professionalism and deeply etched sense of accountability won him the respect of his colleagues many of whom looked to him for guidance. His pharmacy was run with model efficiency and became a landmark in the Qormi St Sebastian area.

In addition to this he was a prominent member of the Malta Chamber of Pharmacists whom he often represented at the international symposia organised by the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association, and he also sat on the Pharmacy Board.

His efforts to improve the welfare of the profession got him increasingly involved in industrial and trade union issues and in the last years he sat on the committee of the General Retailers and Traders Union (GRTU).

It is however his human warmth that will long keep Eric's memory alive in his family, his large circle of friends, and acquaintances. He was the soul of social gatherings and the spontaneity - an inimitable sense of fun won him immediate and lasting friendships.

In the last couple of years he became a dedicated member of the Catenian Association and this widened still further his circle of friends. He will be sorely missed. For many life will not be the same without him. He will live in our thoughts and prayers.

May God grant him the eternal rest he so richly deserves and give comfort to his loving wife Pierina and his daughters Stephanie and Martine.

Appreciation - Dr Philip Attard Montalto, LL.D., KM

Chev. Adrian Busietta writes:

As Philip's friend since boyhood and brother-in-law we had undergone very successful years together from 1960 to 1984 but in particular for ten years in the Sixties, as co-directors of B. Tagliaferro & Sons - Merchant Bankers, which incorporated a substantial share in Scicluna's Bank and the National Bank of Malta Group.

Philip was a wonderful person and we made a very good team to get our banking group to the forefront as an integral part of Malta's long boom in financing the hotels and factories that mushroomed in the exciting Sixties.

Philip was a strong dedicated family man. He always had a smile and was born and lived as a gentleman.

I extend my condolences to his wife Marie for the loss of a dear and good husband and to his son Edward, his daughters Patricia, Victoria and Deborah - heartfelt condolences on the great loss of their father Philip.

In Memoriam

ABELA - PAUL. Sweet, loving thoughts on the 18th anniversary of his death.
His memory is a treasure
Not only on this day
But forever.
His daughter Sonia and family.

AGIUS MUSCAT. In loving memory of VINCENZA, today the first anniversary of her meeting with the Risen Lord. Fondly remembered by her children, in-laws, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her sister, other relatives and friends. Lord, grant her eternal rest.

ANASTASI - MARY. In ever loving memory of my dear mother on the anniversary of her death. Always in my thoughts and prayers. Amy.

ATTARD. Remembering our dearest WILFRID with love and gratitude on the second anniversary of his demise. His family.

CALLUS - MAURICE. In loving memory of a dear and beloved husband and father on the first anniversary, of his joining the loving God, 28.11.02. Always in our prayers and thoughts. Marisa and Maria Christine Callus.

CASSAR - ANTHONY. Precious memories of a loving and devoted husband and father on the second anniversary of his passing away. Fondly remembered by his wife Helen, daughter Emma and son Mark. May the Lord Jesus grant him eternal peace.

DEBONO - SALVINO DEBONO, B.Sc., MD. In loving memory of a loving husband and father on the 23rd anniversary of his death. Always in our thoughts and prayers. Sadly missed by all the family. A prayer is solicited.

DESIRA - CONCETTA née Gravino. In loving memory of a dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who passed away 11 years ago today aged 90. Always in our thoughts and prayers. Antonio, Maria, Carmelo sive Lino, Edwige, Blanche, Joan and family.

FLYNN. Treasured memories of MARY, today the 12th anniversary of her death. Always in our prayers. Francis and Marthese, Maureen and Lino, Rosemarie, and her grandchildren.

HERO. In loving memory of VJENCESLAV, today the seventh anniversary of his death. His wife Lucia, his sons Marco and Roberto and their families.

MANFRÈ. In loving memory of MARY, today the first anniversary of her passing away. Always in our thoughts and prayers. Her family.

SAMMUT - SALVU (Arawni). In loving memory of our dear uncle on the 60th anniversary of his death. Always remembered by his nephews and nieces of Jessie's Bar, Francis, Mary Ann, Doris and Peter. Lord, grant him eternal rest.

TAYAR. In loving memory of my dear parents GITA and GEORGE who passed away 12 and nine years ago respectively this month. Forever in our thoughts. May they both rest in peace, and their spirit live on forever. Their daughter Rina, Arnold, son-in-law Ron and grandson Gabriel.

VELLA. In loving memory of CARMELO on the anniversary of his death. Always remembered by his daughter Doris and her husband Saviour Bonello.

Sidonia Enterprises Ltd

Christmas shutdown. Last trading day Thursday, December 18, 2003, reopening Monday, January 5, 2004.

Personal

In grateful acknowledgement for the grace received through the intercession of Sister Faustina Kowalska. E. Francica, Madliena.

St Therese Of The Child Jesus

Theme: Everyone can become a saint. Insights from St Therese: "I believed, I felt there was a heaven and that this heaven is peopled with souls who actually love me, who consider me their child. This impression is deeply etched in my heart. (B 2v).

Pharmacies Open Today

Malta 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. - Gozo 7.30 to 11 a.m.
Floriana Dispensary, 23, St Anne Street, Floriana;
Nashinal Pharmacy, 194, St Joseph High Road, Hamrun;
Fatima Pharmacy, Zonqor Street, Sta Venera;
St Helen Pharmacy, Tumas Fenech Street, Birkirkara;
J & L Pharmacy, 8, Yacht Marina Apartments, Marina Street, Pietà;
Melita Pharmacy, 127, St George's Road, St Julian's;
Mrabat Pharmacy, 5, Mrabat Street, Sliema;
St Joseph Pharmacy, 172, Main Street, Lija;
Grognet Pharmacy, 41, Constitution Street, Mosta;
St Simon Pharmacy, 8, Islets Promenade, Bugibba;
Tarxien Pharmacy, 59, Tarxien Road, Tarxien;
Victory Pharmacy, 32, Victory Street, Senglea;
Cilia's Pharmacy, 303, Zabbar Road, Fgura;
Medicaid Pharmacy, Tower Avenue, Gudja;
Zurrieq Dispensary, 68, Main Street, Zurrieq;
Nobel Pharmacy, Sciortino Street, Zebbug;
St Anthony Pharmacy, 18, Main Street, Rabat;
Castle Pharmacy, 2, Independence Square, Victoria, Gozo;
Tony's Pharmacy, Qbajjar Street, Marsalforn.