Brave war widow find the strength to build a legacy

WHEN a pregnant Miriam Zariffa lost her husband shortly after he served in East Timor, she did not expect to meet other young mothers who shared her pain.

War widow Miriam Zariffa

WHEN a pregnant Miriam Zariffa lost her husband shortly after he served in East Timor, she did not expect to meet other young mothers who shared her pain.

But she found the support she needed in the heartbreaking tales of other women, many in their 20s and 30s and with children on the way, who had also lost partners in combat.

Peter Zariffa, who was killed in an accident. Picture: Ross Schultz

Ms Zariffa is one of many war widows of East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers who have helped each other through the darkest of days — alongside the families of WWII and Vietnam War Diggers.

“It is heartbreaking to see young widows who have had husbands pass away. It tears your heart out,” Ms Zariffa said.

Ms Zariffa found out she was five weeks pregnant with her son Issac just three days before losing her husband Peter, a medical officer in the Australian Army, in 2007.

Dr Zariffa, who had just returned from East Timor, died suddenly after falling and hitting his head.

Legacy put Ms Zariffa in touch with other war widows and given financial support towards son Isaac’s school fees, uniform and holidays: “Without Legacy providing all of that, I would have felt very isolated.’’

This Anzac Day, Ms Zariffa said she will be thinking of all the families of soldiers killed in combat.

“That’s what Anzac Day is about for me — the families who gave up something too,” Ms Zariffa said.