Silver lining after brutal murder of animal lover
Murdered uMhlanga resident wished for part of the proceeds (R800 000) from the sale of her house be donated to the SPCA.
SHIRLEY Soffiantini loved all animals, big or small, in fact her two cats were her life. She was well loved in the community and had a positive impact on everyone that knew her. Her brutal murder in April last year shocked the close knit community of uMhlanga, but the tragedy surrounding the 63-year-old’s passing has been given a silver lining. Lawyers winding up her estate of the Egret Lane resident who mandated Seeff to sell the property, that her wish was for the proceeds of her house sale (which sold for under R2 million) be donated to the SPCA and another animal rights organisation. A total of R800 000 was donated to the SPCA.
Soffiantini’s longtime friends and neighbours, Anni and Warren Eisele were recently part of a heartwarming gesture. The couple who work for Seeff Property, knew the animal lover for more than 20 years. They said they were extremely touched by the gesture.
“She was a lovely lady who loved her pets. We were devastated by her loss as was the community that knew her, but it’s just like Shirley to make a difference to the lives of those around her even in her passing,” Anni said.
Her husband Warren said he often gave Soffiantini a lift into the village to do her shopping. “We have two jack russels and Shirley loved them like they were her own,” he said.
Caroline Smith, marketing manager of the Durban and Coast SPCA said the organisation was extremely touched by the gesture.
“We were very touched but of course saddened by the tragic way in which Shirley passed. It was her wish that the animals in our care should benefit upon her passing and her wishes have been respected. Shirley had also written to us on occasion expressing her love for animals. Kindness towards animals was one of her guiding principles in her life,” Smith explained.
She said the donation would help to secure the long-term survival of the Durban and Coast SPCA and said it was part of a concept the organisation called Legacy Giving. “Legacy giving forms a large part of our donated income, we rely heavily on people remembering us in their will to continue our services.
“At the Durban and Coast SPCA we actively promote the idea of legacy giving and we have a ‘Bequest Society’ where those who have let us know that they have recognised us in their will are invited to functions and we get to know them and, importantly, thank them while they are still living,” she said.
