Jolanta Bledaite’s grandmother has used the second anniversary of the young Lithuanian’s murder to thank the people of Scotland for their kindness.
Albina Sapalaite described those who raised more than £16,000 to repatriate Jolanta’s body and assist her family as “angels from heaven.”
And in the two years since Jolanta’s murder in Brechin, the family rift that separated her from Jolanta’s alcoholic mother has been healed, she said.
Ona Lazauskiene (59) has now moved in with Albina, with whom she left Jolanta as a baby.
Cash left over from the fund launched by Angus Provost Ruth Leslie Melville and council leader Bob Myles has been used to make the lives of the two tragic women slightly more comfortable. Money poured into the fund from Scotland and the rest of the world.
When it closed, the money went to the Lithuanian embassy in London and, after undertakers were paid for repatriating her remains, the rest was deposited in a bank in Jolanta’s hometown of Alytus, to be divided between her father and her mother Ona, who separated shortly after she was born.
Her father, Sarunas Bledaitas, died of cancer in late 2008, before her killers were brought to justice.
It was feared Jolanta’s grandmother Albina would get nothing.
Ona’s main concern had been getting hold of a share of the money so she could buy a new set of teeth.Angels from heavenOn hearing that, a group of compassionate Taysiders led by Blairgowrie woman Sheila Whyte clubbed together to send Albina £200.
“Angels from heaven,” is how Albina describes them.
But the relationship between the two has improved since Jolanta’s death and Ona has moved in with Albina to help look after her.
Albina lives in grinding poverty in what is little more than a wooden shack in Balbierskis and scrapes a living on a meagre pension.
Ona has visited the dentist to get her new set of dentures.
But the money from Scotland has also been used to decorate and provide a wardrobe and comfortable sofa, and also for the first time in her life Albina can now enjoy television.
“Some money from Scotland has been used to buy furniture and paint the rooms, floors, walls and ceilings,” said a family friend.
“It’s also been used to look after Jolanta’s tombstone and make a flower bed.”
Since Jolanta’s death, she said, Albina’s health had deteriorated, she finds it increasingly difficult to walk and needs daily medication.
She added, “The money from Scotland ensures she can go without pain and gets her medicine.”
Ona was holding the rest of her share of the money in reserve for the future.
“Ona is unemployed. But she has been out in the forest gathering berries and mushrooms which she sells to make some money.
“She is retirement age in July when she will get her pension, but it is nothing.”