Nurses attached to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital and colleagues from the Department of Health and Social development paid their last respects to their friend and co-worker, a hardworking nurse, Mashudu Maureen Nemavhidi (47), who was laid to rest at the Vleifontein Cemetery last Saturday.

She passed away after a short illness. She worked as a medical opthalogical nurse at the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital at the time of her death.

She matriculated at Mphaphuli Senior Secondary school in 1983 and became an assistant nurse at Elim Hospital in 1986. She completed her Diploma in Midwifery at Donald Fraser Hospital in 1990 and completed her diploma in medical ophthalmological nursing in 2001 at Elim Hospital.

She started working as a student nurse at Donald Fraser Hospital and Elim Hospital between 1984 and 1988. She also worked as a professional nurse at both Elim and Donald Fraser Hospitals between 1990 and 1998. She was then promoted to a chief professional nurse in 1998.

Nemavhidi was awarded a Top Provider at Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital between 2002 and 2004. She opened an ophthalmology Clinic at Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital in 2008.

The acting chief executive officer of the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital, Mrs Connie Raulinga, said the hospital was greatly saddened by Nemavhidi´s death. "She was dedicated to her job and it will be very difficult for us to replace her. Nemavhidi will always be remembered by her good work," she said.

Nemavhidi is survived by her mother Winnie, four brothers, one sister and four children.