Karolina Gombac Čelhar

I always felt a great sense of connection and love with my grandmother Karolina even though the physical distance between us was great almost all my life. My father had left his home and emigrated from Slovenia when he was in his early twenties, he and my mother left for Paris where they lived and married before settling in Australia. But I cherished her on the few occasions when she made that long hard voyage to visit us even though the distance was long and tedious for her to travel. I still have wonderful memories of her to this day even though she left this world what seems so long ago. I can still picture her in my mind; the kindness and softness of her smile. I especially remember her gentle soft nature, the hugs she would give me and the stories she would tell me especially of my father when he was a young boy. And then all of a sudden, she was gone again....back to her home in Slovenia and my life had to continue with out her. I have such a sadness in my heart,because I wish that she was in my life when I was growing up, when I really needed her, so I could have had my dearest nanna close to me especially in the times when I felt alone, scared and abandoned. My Grandmother showed great strength through out her life especially after losing her husband and her battle with cancer in her later life but she kept her family together and what she left behind in my heart when she died was what unconditional love looks like. This beautiful woman was not only my Grandmother but she was a wonderful human being. My dearest nanna.....I missed you in my life I pray that I will one day see you again! Pocivaj u miru moja draga stara mama