Edmund & Sons
Clapham
Reception Details
A private reception is being held.
Ceremony Details
A private ceremony is being held.
Committal Details
A private committal is being held.
In memory of
Antonia Gaidulis
Antonietta was born in Montescaglioso, a small town in Basilicata, where, as the author Carlo Levi would say, the most common thing was poverty. She was the oldest of six children including a sister who died before I knew her. Antonietta was like a second mum to us, and after the death of our parents, became the point of reference for all of us brothers; she was our beautiful and only sister. She was the pride of the family.
I don't know for sure, but she had attended the fourth or fifth year of elementary school, and already at a young age she learned to sew clothes. In those days, one went to learn sewing in a dressmakers shop. Unfortunately she was eventually forced to emigrate. She was one of the first girls to emigrate, with all the criticisms of her fellow villagers; if you are about the same age as Antonietta and come from the south you can well imagine. She immigrated here to England hired to pick strawberries in Sussex.
In 1960 she married Nikolai Gaidulis, who died in 1979 after a long illness, putting a strain on Antonietta, who had to work to pay the mortgage on the house and in addition, once she arrived home, she had to look after her husband. In spite of everything, after having found work in a small tailor's shop, she began to discover her virtues and her skills in sewing and went on to reach unimaginable goals. She worked in the workshops of great fashion designers, including the great designer John Gagliano, with whom she worked for until the end of her working years. In addition, she had the honor of working in the entertainment world, sewing clothes for various artists. Finally, the greatest pride is that she was invited to teach and pass on her passion for sewing to young students at the Royal College of Arts in Kensington.
Antonietta had no children. So she poured out her love on the nephews and nieces she had through us brothers, and she loved them all as if they were her own children. I am sure all the nephews and nieces can confirm that she was a very eccentric aunt, certainly unforgettable and very maternal in her ways.
For us brothers she was always ready to help us whenever we had any problems.
Her passing will be heartily felt by the whole family and by all who knew her.
I don't know for sure, but she had attended the fourth or fifth year of elementary school, and already at a young age she learned to sew clothes. In those days, one went to learn sewing in a dressmakers shop. Unfortunately she was eventually forced to emigrate. She was one of the first girls to emigrate, with all the criticisms of her fellow villagers; if you are about the same age as Antonietta and come from the south you can well imagine. She immigrated here to England hired to pick strawberries in Sussex.
In 1960 she married Nikolai Gaidulis, who died in 1979 after a long illness, putting a strain on Antonietta, who had to work to pay the mortgage on the house and in addition, once she arrived home, she had to look after her husband. In spite of everything, after having found work in a small tailor's shop, she began to discover her virtues and her skills in sewing and went on to reach unimaginable goals. She worked in the workshops of great fashion designers, including the great designer John Gagliano, with whom she worked for until the end of her working years. In addition, she had the honor of working in the entertainment world, sewing clothes for various artists. Finally, the greatest pride is that she was invited to teach and pass on her passion for sewing to young students at the Royal College of Arts in Kensington.
Antonietta had no children. So she poured out her love on the nephews and nieces she had through us brothers, and she loved them all as if they were her own children. I am sure all the nephews and nieces can confirm that she was a very eccentric aunt, certainly unforgettable and very maternal in her ways.
For us brothers she was always ready to help us whenever we had any problems.
Her passing will be heartily felt by the whole family and by all who knew her.
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