Our dear old Dad, John Fitzwater (Snr), died suddenly from
a heart problem on Sunday, Mother's Day of all days....
Mum and Dad had spent a nice morning together and were just relaxing
when he suddenly complained of chest pains. In in less than 3 hours the
man whose motto in life was General Joe Stilwell's "Nil Illegitimi
Carborundum" ( Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down ), and who raised
us on the tenets of Rudyard Kipling's "If" was gone.
Though it was a shock to us as he has been in apparent good health and
was certainly in very good spirits, the sudden manner of his departure
was just as he'd always said he wanted.
Dad always feared a slow demise, and in fact made us promise to "pull
the plug" should he ever be hooked up to a machine to sustain his
life. It's comforting to know he had the departure he always wanted. We
know that if Dad had been presented that Sunday morning with the option
of 5 more years but with declining health, or a fast exit that day, he'd
have said, " Right then. Just give me 5 minutes to say goodbye and
pack a bag..."
Mum (Lilla) is with us now in Nelson, and is in good spirits. She's a
tough cookie, and though sad at the loss of her partner of 50 years, is
peaceful and happy, and enjoying having family and friends around her.
The funeral is today (Friday 13 May ) at 11am, and we're expecting quite
a few of Dad's old friends and acquaintances to attend and celebrate his
life. As he was in The Merchant Navy Service, The Returned Services Association
will be farewelling him with a tribute and The Last Post, something he'd
have probably been embarassed about, but nevertheless humbly enjoyed.
We know a great many of you enjoyed Dad's company at Nikau Lodge, listening
to his tales of his life's experiences while sharing a single malt and
a cigar on the verandah. We've never seen Dad happier than his time at
Kaikoura with Lilla running the B&B. He genuinely enjoyed hosting,
meeting people - it was clearly a rewarding experience for him. Dad was
never one to talk much about himself, and it was as spellbinding for us
as it was for those of you lucky enough to hear him talk. Many of the
tales Mum, Ian and I heard him tell on the verandah at Nikau Lodge we've
never heard before, so for that we have to thank you all for coaxing them
out of him.
Though his departure was sudden and unexpected, Dad has in truth being
preparing us and saying goodbye for some time now. Each time Ian and I
visited Kaikoura he'd insist on taking us to the pub on the pier at Kaikoura
to buy us a beer and upon leaving he'd shake our hands and tell us how
great it was to see us again, and that he hoped he'd be around to see
us again next trip.
We'll miss him greatly.
John & Jo, Ian & Robyn and Lilla Fitzwater
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