On the eve of the holidays, a Quebecer who lost her two children in a plane crash in Australia, a year ago on December 19, invites parents to take a moment to realize how lucky they are to be able to kiss their offspring at Christmas.
“Hold your children. Enjoy every moment, ”breathes Catherine Di Blasio, 40, still very shaken by the drama.
On December 19, 2021, the 40-year-old resided in Brisbane, Australia with her two children Lavinia Mocanu, 10, and Lucas Mocanu, 9.
That morning, her ex-husband and father of the kids wanted to give his youngest a belated birthday surprise.
He brought his sister and carried her out on a plane flight in a small plane with his boss, an experienced pilot.
The mother of the family didn’t know anything about it. His children were to be back for dinner, however, their father had promised.
However, it was not until around 4 p.m. that Ms. Di Blasio, rather worried, heard the doorbell ring at her home, while she was busy wrapping Christmas presents.
Shocked
Investigators told him the worst news that can be delivered to a parent.
“They told me that my children had taken a plane which had crashed and that nobody had survived. I was in shock, ”recalls the woman, who hosts the Journal in her parents’ house, in Pointe-Calumet, in the Laurentians.
“I didn’t believe him. There are still days when I don’t believe it. It must be a mode of defense, ”believes the latter.
It would be a mechanical failure which would have caused the crash of the small Cessna. The aircraft had ended up upside down in the water.
unique
Since then, the professional nurse has returned to Quebec to find comfort with her parents, who are also devastated by their loss.
They were their only grandchildren, Catherine being their only daughter.
“Learning of their death was horrible. But, luckily, we still have our daughter, ”Blows Mario Di Blasio, emotional.
In the house, memories of the young people who died adorn almost all the furniture. Mrs. Di Blasio wears earrings with the image of butterflies, in reference to her darlings.
She praises them at length, listing the various means their elementary school has taken to commemorate them, including a music prize in the name of her son.
“They really had a natural talent for the clarinet. They were in the school band,” she says, staring into space on the dining room table where she sits.
Hard time
To go through the stages of mourning, the doubly grieving mother says she has recourse to psychological support.
“Losing my two children, at 40… It’s not easy to think about rebuilding a family,” she slips.
In a few days, she will celebrate a second Christmas without her children, but her first in Quebec since, she who had lived in Australia for about 15 years.
“It’s going to be difficult,” she admits. I dread seeing gifts under a tree. At least I’ll be with my family. »
To the lucky ones who will unwrap the presents with their children, Ms. Di Blasio begs them to be indulgent during this festive period.
“It upsets me to see strict parents. I would like them to savor the moment with their children more. I would like to be in their shoes…” she says.