Who was Amina

CarolW Designs: Pretty Day, Heart of my Heart, In my Mind, Spring Break
Font: Love Story, Arial, Arial bold

Who was Amina?

She was a strong, kind and generous woman with a big nurturing heart, who lived her life in service of those she loved and those around her.

She made sacrifices from young, leaving school to care for her sick Mother, and later her Mother's sister. She would get married to her maternal cousin, Mohamed, and they would start their lives together, and their family, by taking in and raising his sister's daughter as their own. She later had 5 kids of her own. I was the youngest...

She lived a life of service, always busy taking care of her family - cooking, baking, cleaning or tending to the kids and later grandkids and everyone else's kids who happened to come along.. She wasn't one for modern tech and at 81 still believed certain things needed to be washed by hand. She passed on her 82nd birthday a few months after breaking her ankle and leg while hanging washing in the yard.

As much as she loved nothing more than to have the house bustling with family, she was seldom in pics as she was always busy in the kitchen. She wouldn't eat or rest until everyone else was taken care of. Every milestone was an excuse for everyone to come over and enjoy a meal together.

I remember growing up how fond she was of her sisters and how the youngest (Aunty Dieja) and eldest (Tietie) would always come visit. We would usually be the ones to visit Aunty Fatie on special occasions.

My mom also took care of all the grandkids as they grew up. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now that I'm a little older and wiser, I'm seriously impressed at how she always juggled it all while making it all seem effortless. Nothing was ever out of place for long, there was always delicious food and cake for anyone who popped in, and pop ins were not just family, sometimes they were staff at the nearby school or hospital.

She'd fetch the grandkids from school and take them to madrassah, just like she had taken us years ago. She even had food ready for my siblings to take home when they came to fetch their kids. Yes, we were ALL spoiled! My mom didn't do favourites. If she bought someone a gift (bedding, pots, bins, clothes etc.) you could rest assured we would all get, even if she had to save, take it on layby or pay it off.

As a young girl, my mom had worked in a factory as a machinist, and even modelled a bit for her company. All through my siblings childhood, she made all their clothes so they always looked stunning with everyone matching. She also never lost her love for dressing up and capturing the special moments. She's definitely where I got my love for photos and later scrapbooking. I will always remember how my mom always loved receiving a heartfelt card or flowers. We bought her proteas thinking they were her favourite but the year she passed we learnt she only liked that they lasted long. Her favourite flower was yellow roses. For her 82nd birthday we had planned a party with that theme but sadly she passed on her birthday without seeing any of it.

She truly was the embodiment of a wonderful loving, caring, generous, selfless mother and grandmother. A devoted wife who did a phenomenal job of taking care of her family, her home and building and maintaining family ties.

She was a strong woman who overcame Stage 3 colon cancer without ever complaining or even admitting it to her children, perhaps to protect us as her eldest and youngest sisters had both died of cancer.

My mother was a treasured gift and blessing to all who knew her, and lives on in our memories and prayers/duas.