Caroline Overington’s Touching Tribute to Cheryl’s Mother

Published in The Weekend Australian – 16/04/2022

Sincere condolences to Cheryl Akle, who writes our Notable Books column. Her mother has died. She was a powerhouse of love and energy. And a feeder. She mingled Arabic and English, so you’d get: “Eat, eat!” Then: “Salsat tamatim? Tomato sauce?” Then, when guests were leaving: “Take, take!” She was tiny, and her kitchen was a hoot, because the high cabinets were set so low, you’d whack your head if you weren’t careful. She had six children. They adored her. Cheryl wrote this tribute: “My mother, our mother, died this week.

“As she drifted in and out of consciousness over the past few days, she said to me, ‘How are you … how’s your mother?’ “I whispered in her ear. I said, let me tell you about my mother. She’s the best. My mother left her own mother, her brothers and sisters to find a better life for her children. She sacrificed everything she knew so her six children would have a better life. She came to this country from Lebanon with little money and no language … She made a great life for her and her children. She worked several jobs to make ends meet.

She owned a corner store in Glebe, and also took knitting and sewing. Every single night she would cook us a feast for dinner.

Most Sundays she would close her corner shop and take us on a walking excursion to the Opera House. Just her and her six kids in tow. We were always immaculate, beautifully dressed. It was a childhood filled with happiness and joy. My mother was always proud of her children, and then her grandchildren and great grandchildren. That’s my mother. Her name is Antoinette.”

Vale, Antoinette Akle.

And to Cheryl, in your time of deep sorrow, with love from us here at Books, a note from our wise friend Winnie the Pooh: “How lucky am I to have something so special that makes saying goodbye so hard.”