My Great Aunt. The youngest of three surviving children born to John Baptist Barbara and Giovanna Orlando, Katy was born in Zejtun, Malta, on November 25, 1936. Loosing her father at a very early age, young Katy was a vivacious, lively child. Her mother used to tell her that is she did not behave well she would tell the Parish Priest to take her to an "Abbatija", a church run institute for orphaned or naughty girls. Young Katy did not know what an "Abbatija" truly meant, so every afternoon, when the Parish Priest of Tarxien, Dun Nikol Aquilina, would be on his way to Cemetery of Tal-Erwieħ beside their residence, to recite his divine office, she would run to him, cling to his cassock and tell him, "Sur Kappillan, ħudni Abbatija, ħudni Abbatija!". The Parish Priest used to smile, bless her and walk on to the Cemetery. But one fine day, he dropped by to her mother's house and told her that he received a letter from the Nuns of an institute in Sliema, notifying him that were some vacant places to see if he had any of his parishioners interested in having their children enter the institution. At first Giovanna did not like the idea of having young Katy admitted to an institute, but the Parish Priest insisted that there she would receive a good education and that being a widow with three young children to feed, having one taken care of by the Nuns would serve her well due to her financial difficulties. And so Katy entered the institution run by the Nuns, and stayed there as a boarder till she was eighteen years of age.
At the institution Katy received a very good education under the guidance of Religious Sisters. She spoke fluent English, and became a good cook and seamstress. Upon leaving the "Abbatija", she moved to Tarxien with her now frail, elderly growing mother. Following her death on February 13, 1961, at the age of 61, she decided to settle down in Australia with her brother Joe. She resided at first with her maternal uncle, Marcello Orlando in Merrylands, where for years she cared for his bedridden wife, Rosina. For a few years, she was also employed at a Shoe Factory, where her brother worked for decades.
Katy led a simple life. She loved cooking and hated the idea of travelling. She loved her home more than any other place. Settling down in Longfield Street, Cabramatta, Fairfield, with her brother, theirs was a typical "home, sweet home". They formed part of the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish Church in Cabramatta.
One day, as Katy was preparing to serve dinner to her brother, she fell unconscious to the floor. Test results while recovered at hospital resulted in the diagnosis of a brain tumour. Undergoing surgery, she seemed to respond well to the treatments given. Recovered at Bossley Park Nursing Home in Sydney, on July 28, 1999, she was in the company of the daughter-in-law of her cousin's son, when the latter asked her if she would like her help to get to bed. She agreed as the visitor was pulling the bed sheets on to her, Katy passed peacefully away, aged 62.
Funeral Mass was held at the Sacred Heart Parish in Cabramatta, followed by internment at Sydney Catholic Lawn Kemps Creek Cemetery on July 30. Upon his death in May 2007, her brother Joe was laid to rest upon her remains.
At the institution Katy received a very good education under the guidance of Religious Sisters. She spoke fluent English, and became a good cook and seamstress. Upon leaving the "Abbatija", she moved to Tarxien with her now frail, elderly growing mother. Following her death on February 13, 1961, at the age of 61, she decided to settle down in Australia with her brother Joe. She resided at first with her maternal uncle, Marcello Orlando in Merrylands, where for years she cared for his bedridden wife, Rosina. For a few years, she was also employed at a Shoe Factory, where her brother worked for decades.
Katy led a simple life. She loved cooking and hated the idea of travelling. She loved her home more than any other place. Settling down in Longfield Street, Cabramatta, Fairfield, with her brother, theirs was a typical "home, sweet home". They formed part of the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish Church in Cabramatta.
One day, as Katy was preparing to serve dinner to her brother, she fell unconscious to the floor. Test results while recovered at hospital resulted in the diagnosis of a brain tumour. Undergoing surgery, she seemed to respond well to the treatments given. Recovered at Bossley Park Nursing Home in Sydney, on July 28, 1999, she was in the company of the daughter-in-law of her cousin's son, when the latter asked her if she would like her help to get to bed. She agreed as the visitor was pulling the bed sheets on to her, Katy passed peacefully away, aged 62.
Funeral Mass was held at the Sacred Heart Parish in Cabramatta, followed by internment at Sydney Catholic Lawn Kemps Creek Cemetery on July 30. Upon his death in May 2007, her brother Joe was laid to rest upon her remains.
My Great Aunt. The youngest of three surviving children born to John Baptist Barbara and Giovanna Orlando, Katy was born in Zejtun, Malta, on November 25, 1936. Loosing her father at a very early age, young Katy was a vivacious, lively child. Her mother used to tell her that is she did not behave well she would tell the Parish Priest to take her to an "Abbatija", a church run institute for orphaned or naughty girls. Young Katy did not know what an "Abbatija" truly meant, so every afternoon, when the Parish Priest of Tarxien, Dun Nikol Aquilina, would be on his way to Cemetery of Tal-Erwieħ beside their residence, to recite his divine office, she would run to him, cling to his cassock and tell him, "Sur Kappillan, ħudni Abbatija, ħudni Abbatija!". The Parish Priest used to smile, bless her and walk on to the Cemetery. But one fine day, he dropped by to her mother's house and told her that he received a letter from the Nuns of an institute in Sliema, notifying him that were some vacant places to see if he had any of his parishioners interested in having their children enter the institution. At first Giovanna did not like the idea of having young Katy admitted to an institute, but the Parish Priest insisted that there she would receive a good education and that being a widow with three young children to feed, having one taken care of by the Nuns would serve her well due to her financial difficulties. And so Katy entered the institution run by the Nuns, and stayed there as a boarder till she was eighteen years of age.
At the institution Katy received a very good education under the guidance of Religious Sisters. She spoke fluent English, and became a good cook and seamstress. Upon leaving the "Abbatija", she moved to Tarxien with her now frail, elderly growing mother. Following her death on February 13, 1961, at the age of 61, she decided to settle down in Australia with her brother Joe. She resided at first with her maternal uncle, Marcello Orlando in Merrylands, where for years she cared for his bedridden wife, Rosina. For a few years, she was also employed at a Shoe Factory, where her brother worked for decades.
Katy led a simple life. She loved cooking and hated the idea of travelling. She loved her home more than any other place. Settling down in Longfield Street, Cabramatta, Fairfield, with her brother, theirs was a typical "home, sweet home". They formed part of the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish Church in Cabramatta.
One day, as Katy was preparing to serve dinner to her brother, she fell unconscious to the floor. Test results while recovered at hospital resulted in the diagnosis of a brain tumour. Undergoing surgery, she seemed to respond well to the treatments given. Recovered at Bossley Park Nursing Home in Sydney, on July 28, 1999, she was in the company of the daughter-in-law of her cousin's son, when the latter asked her if she would like her help to get to bed. She agreed as the visitor was pulling the bed sheets on to her, Katy passed peacefully away, aged 62.
Funeral Mass was held at the Sacred Heart Parish in Cabramatta, followed by internment at Sydney Catholic Lawn Kemps Creek Cemetery on July 30. Upon his death in May 2007, her brother Joe was laid to rest upon her remains.
At the institution Katy received a very good education under the guidance of Religious Sisters. She spoke fluent English, and became a good cook and seamstress. Upon leaving the "Abbatija", she moved to Tarxien with her now frail, elderly growing mother. Following her death on February 13, 1961, at the age of 61, she decided to settle down in Australia with her brother Joe. She resided at first with her maternal uncle, Marcello Orlando in Merrylands, where for years she cared for his bedridden wife, Rosina. For a few years, she was also employed at a Shoe Factory, where her brother worked for decades.
Katy led a simple life. She loved cooking and hated the idea of travelling. She loved her home more than any other place. Settling down in Longfield Street, Cabramatta, Fairfield, with her brother, theirs was a typical "home, sweet home". They formed part of the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish Church in Cabramatta.
One day, as Katy was preparing to serve dinner to her brother, she fell unconscious to the floor. Test results while recovered at hospital resulted in the diagnosis of a brain tumour. Undergoing surgery, she seemed to respond well to the treatments given. Recovered at Bossley Park Nursing Home in Sydney, on July 28, 1999, she was in the company of the daughter-in-law of her cousin's son, when the latter asked her if she would like her help to get to bed. She agreed as the visitor was pulling the bed sheets on to her, Katy passed peacefully away, aged 62.
Funeral Mass was held at the Sacred Heart Parish in Cabramatta, followed by internment at Sydney Catholic Lawn Kemps Creek Cemetery on July 30. Upon his death in May 2007, her brother Joe was laid to rest upon her remains.
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