Antenna News in English 260796

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

News in English, of 27/07/1996

TITLES

• ALIKI

FUNERAL/CEMETERY

Her son Yianis Papamichail and her companion Kostas Spyropoulos said a final farewell before her coffin was closed and lowered into the earth.

The close friends and family members in the cemetery and the thousands of people outside the cemetery gates shouted "Immortal".

For Greeks everywhere, Aliki will live forever. Her smile and her songs will outlast the grief at her passing. But, that is little consolation to the tragic figure of her mother, Emi.

The bond of love between a mother and her child is perhaps the greatest of all. It was a bond Aliki always felt. One story has it that once when Aliki and her mother arrived at a reception, Aliki became angry when they were announced as "Aliki and her mother". Aliki said "That's wrong. This is ''Mrs Emi Voyouklaki and her daughter have arrived''".

Bonded by love they will travel together no more.

FUNERAL/SERVICE/ORATIONS

PROCESSION

Aliki touched the hearts of people from all walks of life and of all ages... From the very old to the very young... From her longtime collaborators and fans to the children who worked with her in "The Sound of Music". They were all there. Walking alongside Aliki, with grief on their faces, but the joy of her personality in their hearts.

Aliki Vouyouklaki was above all, strong. She said of herself "Whatever I achieved, I achieved through hard work".

Hard work and love, especially for children. Not only was she an actress and a singer, she wrote childrens books. Not even the suffering caused by her illness could dampened her enthusiasm for children. Before her illness was diagnosed, but she was ill, Aliki spent an hour and a half signing her books for young people. At the end of what must have been a gruelling process, she just wanted to go home to rest. All of Greece prays that God will now let Aliki rest.

ALIKI/KAREZI/MELINA

But, when she said farewell to her beloved friends, Melina Mercouri and Tzeni Karezi, she felt the reality of death.

Another great actress, the late Melina Mercouri once said "I think Aliki's biggest plus is her smile, which gives joy to the people who get a dose of it at her theatre".

When Melina died, Aliki suffered deeply. As she did, when another great actress and friend of hers, Tzeni Karezi passed away four years ago to the day. Though they never acted together, they led parallel lives.

In a 1992 TV interview, Aliki, with tears in her eyes, said farewell to her dear departed friend : "Tzeni, my sister, my love. Have a good trip wherever you're going. When we meet again, we'll talk..."

ALIKI/FOSKOLOS/LYGIDAKIS

Aliki's success and her popularity sprung from the strength of her character.

Two people who knew her well, a writer and a doctor, talked to Antenna about what made Aliki special until the end.

Writer Nikos Foskolos says "Aliki was unique. She wasn't loved by some people. She was adored by everybody. I went to the metropolitan cathedral chapel early Wednesday morning, with Aliki's ex-husband Dimitris Papamichail and her partner at the end Kostas Spyropoulos. I saw children with tears in their eyes beside her, the children who have played with her for the last two years in ''The Sound of Music''. We saw people of three generations. Elderly people, middle-aged men and women as well as little children were leaving flowers on the coffin and talking to her, as if to their mother, sister or daughter. They were saying ''My angel, why did you leave so early? We'll never forget you''.

What touched us most, was a woman who left a flower on Aliki's coffin, touched her picture on it, kissed it and uttered a single phrase, which sums up Aliki. She said ''Goodbye Aliki, I thank you for everything''. All of us, who believed in Aliki, who loved her, we all understood what this woman wanted to say with this ''thank you''. I wish her pleasant dreams on her long journey, as pleasant as the dreams she's given the greek people for the last forty years".

Doctor Nikos Lygidakis explains how he met Aliki Voyouklaki. "The first time I met with Aliki, was after my dear friend, for the last 16 years, Minos Kyriakou called me one night in Thessaloniki and told me that Aliki, according to medical tests she had had in Athens, had a sarcoma in her pancreas. He asked me, or rather ordered me, to do whatever I could to help her.

Right after that call, Aliki called me herself and we made an appointment the next day. I went to Germany with her,because the tests in Greece which had revealed problems in her pancreas and liver were inconclusive. I had some hopes that her problems could be remedied by surgery. My hope was encouraged by what I heard on our first day in Germany. Aliki was elated.

She started hoping herself. During some painful tests the following day, Aliki asked me to give her not a strong pain-killer, but a mild one. I understood she wanted to hear what we said during the exams. Doctor Klaassen told me it was cancer. Aliki must have heard him. I immediately told Mr. Kyriakou.

After the exams, Aliki told me to look her in the eye and tell her if she had cancer. I told her she didn't, but I'm not sure she believed me. What I admired most about her, was her courage, the dignity with which she faced the end.

She transmitted strength, hope and determination to those around her rather than the other way around. She looked reality in the face with a smile".

MUSICAL TRIBUTE

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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