CROW honours slain volunteer of 17 years
We salute Angela for a life well lived and for her dedicated service to CROW
THE Centre For Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) honoured a long-time volunteer at a tree-planting ceremony on Friday, 20 January .
Angela Croucamp (79) was murdered in her Tafta Park cottage in Bellair on Tuesday, 3 January. She had volunteered at CROW for 17 years. When she first started at the centre, Angela helped clean offices. Later, she would bring special treats to CROW’s former mascot ‘Sunshine,’ a lemur that was non-releasable. Angela stopped volunteering at CROW in 2015 after she became frail.
She had assisted the NGO in almost all aspects of it’s day-to day running, from cleaning to preparing and delivering food for the patients being treated at the Yellowwood Park-based rehabilitation centre.
Born in England, Angela immigrated to Rhodesia when she was 11-years-old. Later in life she moved to South Africa and settled on the Bluff, before moving to Tafta Park in Bellair. As one of the oldest cousins in her family, Angela’s relatives said she was a good example to everyone around her. Her family described her as someone who never let life’s pitfalls get her down.
The much-loved CROW volunteer’s family decided to plant a wild olive tree and bury her ashes at the centre. Angela’s cousin Heather Thistleton says CROW meant a lot to her. “Angela loved being at CROW, so we decided this would be a great resting place for her. My cousin was quite a nervous person, but was always willing to try new things. She enjoyed volunteering at the centre,” said Heather.
CROW clinic nurse Sue-Ann Shutte, a good friend to Angela for 19 years, says Angela lifted everyone’s spirits with her positive attitude and zest for life. “Angela was a good person and was loved by everyone. She wanted to be part of CROW and her passion for the work we do at the centre was infectious,” said Shutte.
Reminiscing about his early days at CROW, director Paul Hoyte said: “When I started at CROW, Angela would always come into my office and move things around, spray furniture polish everywhere and ask everyone to tidy their desks,” said Hoyte.
Over 200 mourners attended Angela’s funeral held at Tafta Park on Wednesday, 18 January – a fitting testament to how many people loved Angela and the impact she had on people’s lives. “It’s volunteers like Angela that keep CROW going. We salute Angela for a life well lived and for her dedicated service to CROW,” said Hoyte.
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