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When Filomena Anania was interviewed for her Faces of Footscray profile earlier this year, during one of her final shifts as a nurse, she emphasised one point: “Look forwards, don’t look backwards”.
Having cared for countless patients over four decades, Filomena had suddenly found the roles reversed in late 2019. The veteran intensive care nurse was diagnosed with bowel cancer that October. Surgery followed and by February 2020 – just as the COVID pandemic hit – she was undergoing an intensive course of chemotherapy.
So comfortable being the carer, Filomena admitted she found it harder being a patient.
“I don’t want to be beholden to family and friends and I don’t want to be the focus of everyone’s lives.”
And so, Filomena did what she’s always done – she got on with things.
Requesting a transfer to Sunshine Hospital’s mass vaccination hub, to reduce her exposure to COVID during her cancer treatment, she worked to protect as many community members from the pandemic as she could.
“It’s a kind of escapism for me (during illness), and it’s better than sitting at home.”
Meanwhile, Filomena’s close friend Josephine Gauci, a patient services attendant (PSA), was also going through her own battle with cancer. Filomena and Josephine developed a tight friendship over more than a decade, working together in the Footscray and Sunshine intensive care units. Their cancer diagnoses came within a few months of each other. Very sadly, they died within 36 hours of each other in July 2022.
Filomena passed away on July 16, leaving behind her Italian-born parents, Angelo and Teresa, sister Maria and brother Ralph.
Josephine, who had moved back to Perth during her illness to be closer to her sister, died on July 14. She is survived by her husband, Paul, mother and siblings.
Western Health nurse Laloma Carstens, a close friend of both Filomena and Josephine who also used to work in intensive care, reflected on their legacies – as well as the teamwork between staff in different roles in ICU.
“Jo was a really important member of ICU,” Laloma says. “She was very passionate about her work and was always helping new nurses and PSAs.
“Some of the new nurses were intimidated by Jo initially, but once they got to know her they realised they could learn a lot from her. She was like the ‘mother’ of the younger nurses, and they respected and loved her.”
Laloma says Filomena inspired a similar respect in the ICU.
“Fil always came across as this stern, cheeky person, but she had a heart of gold,” Laloma says.
“She will always be remembered for being very pedantic about her bedspace where she reorganised everything for her patients.
“They received the best care – Fil would spend a lot of time sprucing them up. Hair washes were always included! Her famous sayings were ‘Come on, get on with it’, ‘Now, listen here’, and ‘Ohhhh stop it!’
“If I was in intensive care, I’d want Fil to be my nurse.”
Josephine and Filomena
While working at the vaccination hub, Filomena reflected on the profession she loved, and her dedication to her patients and peers.
“It’s the people you work with that makes it so enjoyable,” said Filomena.
“Like anywhere, you have your ups and downs, but it’s very rewarding when you see people recover and come back to health.”
While Filomena devoted the majority of her career to Western Health, she arrived with broad experience, having worked at the former Prince Henry’s, Preston and Northcote Community Hospital, and the John Fawkner Private Hospital.
Filomena said she had tossed up between midwifery and intensive care nursing while training. Once she made her decision, she discovered ICU required a wide range of skills.
“Working in ICU, the job is just as much about the families as it is the patients, because families really need emotional support – you can see the relief in their eyes when there is improvement,” she said.
“As well as nurse, we play social worker and counsellor and sometimes even furniture removalist!”
“It’s been so rewarding.”
Having helped so many patients through their final days and hours, Filomena faced her own terminal illness with grace.
“Sometimes you will get bad news, which I’ve had, but it’s just a case of taking it one day at a time,” Filomena said. “I just say: ‘Look forwards, don’t look backwards’.”
