Leda Caldera

What an amazing life Mrs Caldera had, over a 100 years of of seeing the world change. I remember her with over 50 years of memories. When we had gatherings at Claude and Jackies, there she was sitting at the head of the table enjoying everyone's conversations, may she Rest in Peace, and enjoy her next journey.

What an amazing life Mrs Caldera had, over a 100 years of of seeing the world change. I remember her with over 50 years of memories. When we had gatherings at Claude and Jackies, there she was sitting at the head of the table enjoying everyone's conversations, may she Rest in Peace, and enjoy her next journey.

On the 30th of March I said goodbye to my last grandparent, my beautiful Nonna, Leda Caldera. My Nonna’s life was nothing short of a miracle. Born over 100 years ago in 1925 and living through the Great Depression at a young age, her city of Fiume was bombed during World War II and seized under communist rule. Her husband, my Nonno, was held as a prisoner of war but was luckily released when the war ended. At the young age of just 25, my Nonna made the brave decision to flee Yugoslavia with her husband and head to Australia, not knowing a word of English but just searching for a better future. Originally heading for Sydney, the ships crew change directions mid journey and they ended up docking in Fremantle and being sent to a displaced persons camp in Northam. My grandparents later moved to St James, which was full of Italian immigrants at the time. They bought a plot of land for just £120 and my Nonno built their family home with his own hands, which my Nonna continued to live in for over 70 years. I have so many memories in that home, from playing in her overgrown backyard, being forced to watch the young and the restless (it was her favourite), to hand rolling gnocchi and frying cotoletta in the kitchen together. What really stands out the most to me about my Nonna is not just what she went through, but how she lived. She had more friends than anyone I’ve ever known, she was so widely and fiercely loved by the Italian community. Growing up, I didn’t always understand her. Like many of us with immigrant grandparents, the language barrier and sometimes tough love approach could be hard to navigate as a child. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to truly appreciate her as a woman and everything she carried just for me to be here today. My Nonna lived to 100 years old, a life full of strength, love, laughter and resilience. She faced countless hardships that could have defeated even the strongest spirit, yet she carried on with unwavering strength. My Nonna did not simply survive, she lived. She is, and always will be, my inspiration. While the past few months have been incredibly difficult for my family, and we are all so grateful that she is no longer suffering, our hearts are still broken. Because a woman like my Nonna is not just someone you lose, she is someone you carry with you forever. Ti voglio bene con tutto il cuore, la terra ti sia lieve.