Angela passed away peacefully at home in Nelson on 21 September 2005 aged only 43 years. She moved to Nelson 4 years ago to work as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. Tragically, she was diagnosed with metastatic bowel cancer after just 6 weeks in this appointment.

Angela graduated from Otago University in 1986, and, after her registration year in Nelson, shifted to Wellington.

She then studied for a Batchelor of Music degree at Victoria University, with special emphasis on singing—her talent was such that she was a finalist in the Mobil Song Quest.

After concurrent work at Family Planning, her strong social conscience and special interest in Women’s Health lead her to specialise in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

She undertook her registrar training in Wellington between 1990 and 1994, and then further postgraduate training in Peterborough and Leicester.

In 1997, Angela obtained her FRANZCOG and returned to Wellington where she worked until 2001 as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Wellington Hospital, and, in private, at Fertility Associates.

In 1990, Angela married Alistair Darroch, and the couple subsequently had three children, Raffaele, Lisetta and Giovanni—the damning diagnosis was made when Giovanni was just 6 months old. But Angela fitted much in to her life, and, not surprisingly (given her interest in mind-body medicine), stretched the time, although it did mean forsaking medicine to focus on family and music.

All those who have worked with Angela will remember her fine qualities, especially her fun, wit, unselfishness, loyalty and dedication. She was a great team person, who had excellent clinical judgment and a huge dose of common sense. And she did not forget her Neapolitan roots, breaking into wonderful song with just a little prompting.

Just 2 weeks before her death, Angela completed a CD recording of some of her favourite Italian opera and ballads. The poignancy of the initial track from Tosca when he asks the Lord “..why do you repay me like this?” was not lost on Angela—or all those who have been touched by her. Her CD is a vivid reminder of a vivacious and talented young woman.