Family mourns ‘cheeky’ mum after flu outbreak claims seven lives at nursing home

GRIEVING family members of a resident who died from a deadly flu outbreak at St John’s Village in Wangaratta, have remembered her as an “incredible” woman who always had a twinkle in her eye.

Thelma and Terry O’Keefe with a photo of Thelma’s mum, Molly Curtis, who died on Thursday aged 96. Picture: Jay Town

GRIEVING family members of a resident who tragically died from a deadly flu outbreak at St John’s Village in Wangaratta, have remembered her as an “incredible” woman who always had a twinkle in her eye.

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SEVEN ELDERLY RESIDENTS DIE IN FLU OUTBREAK AT WANGARATTA’S ST JOHN’S RETIREMENT VILLAGE

Molly Curtis, 96, died late on Thursday night, making her the seventh flu victim.

Daughter Thelma O’Keefe and son-in-law Terry told the Sunday Herald Sun they were only made aware their loved mother was ill on Wednesday.

“My sister called me and told us we’d better go see mum,” Mrs O’Keefe said. “On Thursday we went to see her but at 11.15pm that night we got a called to tell us Mum passed.”

Mrs O’Keefe said her family was “kept in the dark” and they felt the aged-care facility should have told them sooner.

Molly Curtis with her dog, Mack, last month.

Molly Curtis.

“It came as a bit of a shock. One week she was OK and the next we were saying goodbye,” she said.

But the family said they wanted to remember the happy times with the woman described as “very cheeky”.

“She loved a naughty joke and always had a cheeky smile on her face when she laughed,” Mr O’Keefe said.

“Whether she was fishing or chopping up wood, mum was always active until she went into St John’s a few months ago.”

Molly Curtis was kept busy with her big family.

With 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, Mrs Curtis was kept busy cooking and looking after her loved ones.

“She lived for her family and was always full of energy when she was around her grandkids,” Mrs O’Keefe said. “As soon as someone popped in she was up in the kitchen making them a cuppa.”

The family believes the aged- care facility took too long to disclose the severity of the situation.

“We should’ve been told sooner that Mum was sick,” Mr O’Keefe said.

“They need to look into their hygiene procedures. If someone is visiting a family member and they have a cold they shouldn’t be allowed in because something like this should never happen again.”