A sad farewell to our dear friend Helen Azolan
By Lewis Betsy
It was with great sadness that my wife and I said a final farewell to our dear friend Helen Azolan.
Helen, a much-loved mother of four, died aged 64, and Seychellois families and friends turned up from all parts of the UK for her funeral at St Michael and St Martin Church, Hounslow.
Helen and her husband Michael were our very close friends from many years back. Her family, like ours, was one that had sought sanctuary from Seychelles in the UK.
Helen, born Helen Anacoura, was a devoted mother to four children, two girls and two boys. I was privileged to read her husband’s eulogy at the funeral.
They had been married for 42 years and Michael had written: “Helen and I have had a wonderful marriage. She is the love of my life. She believed in me and everything I did even when I didn't believe in myself.
“Life was not always easy, but we have worked hard and struggled hard together
to build a happy life for children.
“Helen was a wonderful mother and did everything with the children's future in mind. “Sometimes people ask how we have managed to keep a strong marriage in this day and age. There is no secret, we simply loved each other and had one mission and that was to provide a happy home and give a good example to the children.”
My wife, Juliana, read a dedication from Helen’s children, Debra, Carol, Nicholas and Johnathan in which they proudly said they were “blessed” to have her as their mother.
They said: “Our Mum was destined to be a mother. She had a natural gift to nurture and take care of people. She had an open house and was always happy to welcome anyone.
“Mum was always laughing and tackled everything with a smile. In fact, her laugh was infectious – we often joined in the laughter even when we didn’t know why she was laughing!
“She was our biggest supporter and did her very best to ensure we had everything we needed in life, even if it meant she had to sacrifice something in return. She loved us and made sure we knew it.”
Juliana and myself found her a humble, caring and loving friend to all who knew her.
Let us remember her laughter, love and the joy she brought into everyone’s lives.
May her memory continue to inspire and uplift us as we navigate this world without her.
We offer our sincere condolences to the Azolan family.
We really feel for them and pray with them for their loss.
