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Mbulelo’s story – My mom was my best friend
Mbulelo Peter, 27, is still haunted by not being able to give his mother and best friend, Zandile, the funeral she deserved and wishes he could do it over.
"I wish there was a thing called reburying someone. I would have done that just to make sure that people see that this woman raised kids who are able to think and acknowledge the past that they had with the person who made sure they had everything. It still haunts me. When someone tells me they know someone who passed away, I feel like I can’t go to the funeral because I’m like’ eish I wish my mom had this," he says.
Peter’s mother, Zandile, 45, passed away after battling with a chronic lung infection, an illness Peter also has.
"This is still a touchy subject for me, but I feel like my mom is still my best friend. She was the one person who understood me more than anyone. We stayed apart from each other for the longest time because she was in KwaZulu-Natal and I am here in Joburg, but she always made sure she sent money so I could see her every weekend.
When it came to planning her send-off Peter was shocked to learn that his mother did not have funeral cover. Her funeral was able to come together with the help of friends, colleagues, and neighbours, which was a true testament to the impact Zandile had on people’s lives.
"It was a good weekend because no one left. In her memory, they stayed there just to celebrate her life. The challenging part was that I was very shocked when I found out she wasn’t covered for the funeral. What was more challenging was that we were also looking for more hands to help us out with the chairs, tables, and people to help us cook," he says.
Since her passing, Peter has been able to get a tombstone for his mother and continues to keep her memory alive with a tattoo inspired by her on his arm and the melodic memories they shared through her love for R&B.
Watch Mbulelo’s story here
Clientèle Life offers you a free Funeral Guide with important steps to remember if a loved one passes away. The Funeral Guide is available in six different languages, includes a funeral checklist. To find it visit here.
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