Death robs Gina of last wish

Death has robbed cancer sufferer Gina Forrest of her last wish.
Gina died at home on Saturday night surrounded by family and friends, even as every effort was still being made to bring her brother to Wanganui.
Described by everyone who knew her as a sweet and wonderful person, Gina had said just two weeks ago her dying wish was to see her older brother from the Philippines one last time ". . . to talk of memories and their lives.'
Neither Gina nor her brother, Supicio Yabo, who hadn't seen each other for more than 10 years, could afford to pay for the flights.
So the 48-year-old second-year UCOL nursing student's colleagues together with her workmates from Countdown Supermarket in Trafalgar Square, where she had worked for nearly 10 years, decided to raise the airfares.
The decision was made just a week ago, and on Friday the fund was $8000. But yesterday it had climbed to a staggering $10,500 after Auckland Countdown workers had held a "Gina Day" on Saturday and pulled in $2500.
Gina's boss, Wanganui Countdown manager Braden Crossan, said yesterday he was feeling so shocked that Gina had died.
"It was only three weeks ago she was here working on the checkout - what an awful shock.'
Mr Crossan said he would be organising for staff from other stores to come in on Thursday for a couple of hours, so all the staff could go to her funeral.
"I still can't believe the hundreds of people that came into the store to give money for Gina, and everyone wants to go to her funeral - everyone really loved her.'
St Mary's priest Father Dave Bell said the response from the community of Wanganui during the past week had been phenomenal.
"It was wonderful to see such an outpouring of love for Gina and the community coming together like this.'
Father Bell said he was honoured to be conducting her funeral at St Mary's on Thursday at 1pm.
And last night Gina Forrest was the focus of his 6pm mass. UCOL third-year nursing students said they had treasured their time with Gina because she had been such an inspiring person.
Spokesperson Erin O'Connell said they were all very saddened by Gina's passing so soon.
"Gina knew before she died that her brother was on the way. Her last wish united our community.
"It really has been wonderful.'
Ms O'Connell said she found it incredible that someone like Gina, a small, quiet woman who was a checkout operator at a supermarket, had inspired such love in a community.
Wanganui Filipino Association president Roy Villaceran said the passports for Gina's brother and his 25-year-old son, Gerald, had come through on Friday.
"It is now up to Immigration,' he said.
The New Zealand Ambassador in Manila, Andrew Matheson, was also helping.
"I sent him a letter and faxed all the clippings about Gina in the Chronicle, so he would understand how important it was to honour her last wish.'
Mr Villaceran said when he talked to Supicio (who is in his 60s) yesterday, he was distraught and still in shock that his sister had died so suddenly.
"He told me he didn't know if he would be able to make the journey, because he was too sad.'
But he will be coming and hopefully flying out on Tuesday. "I promised Gina he would be here, and I will make sure he is. We are organising everything for Gina.'