Violette Dupuis



Violette spent her early life at the small rural township of Crouy-En-Thelle,

attend the all girl school of Leonard de Vinci Girl school in Crouy-en-Thelle.
Similar size to Thoona about 60ks from Paris. She attended Leonardo Di Vinci local
primary school, which is still functioning and still looks the same today.
Violette met Michael Stanimirovic during the 2nd World war in France and they
married in November 1947. They tried to flee France through Yugoslavia, but were
captured by the Germans and were taken to a concentration camp. Still wanting
to escape and by some strange twist of fate which could possibly have been the major
reason for them and their family being a part of our lives here in Australia today,
the befriended a German officer who helped them escape their horrendous situation in
Germany. Not without incident though, Michael received numerous gunshot wounds to
his legs whilst trying to shelter Violette on their journey.

After the War they left Germany by boat and arrived in Melbourne January 1951.
At first they were taken to Bonegilla near Wodonga Victoria / N.S.W. boarder, then to Benalla Victoria,
where they stayed 3 years before moving to Matheson street Wangaratta Victoria.
They both worked at Bruck Australia and the Woollen Mills and Violette's wage was
2 Pounds 10 Shillings, plus overtime and bonuses of 3 Pounds per week.
In 1959 they bought their first house in George street Wangaratta for 200 Pounds,
where Violette stayed until March 2002 when she became a resident of Thoona -
which she called her Paradise. Alexandre (son) is going to call his property
"Violette's Paradise". She returned to France twice since 1951, but each time
she could not wait to return to her beloved Australia which she called home.



Mijomir (Michael) Stanimirovic
was born 16th Feb 1920 in a small village of Kragujevac, Serbia. Son of Dragoub Stanimirovic and Poleksija nee Marichitch

and Violette when they meet in 1941

Mijomir (Michael) died in 1985 .. 21 years ago.
Violette had 6 children. Some of you may not know that Paula and Paulette
were both born in France,
but both died as infants and are buried in her home town of Croy-En-Thelle.
Nanette was born in Belgrade Yugoslavia.
(Married Sam De Napoli, 2 Children, 7 grandchildren)
Dushan in France
(Married Mary McEwen,6 Children, 15 Grandchildren)
Alexandre in Benalla Victoria.
(Single, 4 Children, 8 Grandchildren)
Raymond in Benalla,
(Married Jenny / 2 Children, 3 grandchildren)

What sort of mark or legacy can one person leave on society?

Violette was mother of 6 children
Grandmother of 16
Great Grandmother of 30 and growing yearly.

Violette lived a very full and constantly busy life as any mother of 4 would know.
The Stanimirovic house was always full of young people, not just theirs but all
their friends as well. Many neighbours wondered ... and called it
the half way house. Why did they all come? One main reason was because Violette
was ever ready to help, to feed and mother anyone in need with her
ever giving heart of gold. Even the Exchange Students of late loved her and called
her Grandma - and up to last week she received and email from Germany.

Violette could quickly sum people up. She was always very sharp and a quick wit.
She was very modern in her thinking .. eg. Before she was married she parachuted
off the Eiffel Tower. She was always straight and told it how it was. If she liked
you - you knew it. If she didn't like you - you also knew it! She was stubborn in
her own way and tenacious and determined with any given task and would always
see things through to the end. She really lived for and loved her family and would
do anything within her power to help them or anyone.
..eg. Dushan would frequently visit her at work demanding money ( he became the serial
pest of the guards ). Violette would have to leave her machine and run out to give
him 2 shillings through the wire fence then rush back to work again.
Many times she would take any member of her family in - in their time of need, they
all knew grandma would listen, love and not lie to them.
There was a family comment: "Half the world stayed with Grandma at some time".
She would always feed them, care for them and never sought any reward for herself.
She was a real giver and would spend her last cent on the needy if she could, with
absolutely no selfishness and never complained about her own problems or health.
Violette's business also included knitting slippers for others. At one time she
knitted 1100 pair so she could buy a gas heater. She also crocheted throw rugs.
I ( Reg Bussell ) remember her many times making squares and sewing them together
to complete yet another rug for someone.

Violette also had a great sense of humour and loved a joke and laugh so was
often on the end of Alexandre's practical jokes.
Eg. On a recent pension day at Coles supermarket she was going through the
check-out totally unaware that Alexandre had dropped a packet of condoms into
her trolley ( but first removed the price sticker ) and disappeared. Of course the
check - out chick had to know the price, so the announcement came over the
loud speaker: "Price check on condoms register 7", at which point the whole of
sticky beak shoppers had to know who was buying this item didn't they, so all
eyes turned on register 7.
There are many more things we could say about this wonderful lady, but lets treasure
our own special memories of her and emulate her generous qualities in our own lives.

There are some people today who need special thanks.

Merle Hargreaves Bowya Victoria - for your love and devotion to Violette
and your great assistance to Alexandre, particularly over the past 6 months.

Likewise to Jan Parker Thoona Victoria
for all your wonderful help over the same period.

But there is one more huge THANK YOU!! Some time ago Alexandre
swore to his Mum he would NEVER put her into any form of aged care facility and that
she would see out her days at home. Can I say this happened and at a huge cost.
Alexandre has been true to his word and particularly over the past months. He has
been her 24 hour / 7 day carer. My wife works in a aged care, so I have an awareness
of the many needs of high care residents. Many residents either don't have or don't
see family members for months or years. Alexandre, to the exclusion of most else
in his life has devoted exceptional loving care to his Mum to make her as comfortable
and happy as possible. But Alexandre said, he counts it an honour and a privilege to
have known and had this time with her - especially the last two years in Grandma's
"Paradise at Thoona".

Violette was also an avid reader of French novels and magazines. She always had her
French Bible by her bed which she would read regularly. She spoke many times to
Alexandre about going to heaven. And although we all miss her today, in our own
way we wouldn't want her still here in her suffering body the way she was.

Mum and Alexandre



PSALM:23
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, You have given us a sure and certain
hope of the resurrection to eternal life. In your keeping are all those who have
departed in Christ. We here commit Violette our dear friend, mother grandmother
and great grandmother to her resting place,
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died and was buried, and rose again
for us, and who shall change our mortal body that it may be like
His glorious body. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.