Susanna Freymark
Alison Battistuzzi fought for her life getting an extra six years after a double lung transplant in 2018.
Her new lungs gave her new life and Alison was able to set up a market stall to sell the sauces and spices she used in cooking.
Allycats Spice Rack was a familiar stall around Richmond Valley. The final home for Allycats was the Casino Lions Farmers Market.
Alison died on Tuesday, October 22 from liver failure caused by years of taking medication for cystic fibrosis. She had lived with the disease for 52 years.
She died at her home in Yorklea with her husband Andrew Battistuzzi by her side.
“She battled all her life to stay healthy and to breathe,” he said.
She’d been in bed with her cats by her side for the past six weeks after doctors had said she only had days – she fought for weeks, Andrew said.
“The cats never left her side,” he said.
Andrew had talked with Alison about how she wanted to be remembered.
“When I go – no one is to cry,” Alison had said.
“Have a laugh with me.”
Her husband Andrew and son Dom Battistuzzi will honour Alison with a final spice stall this Saturday.
“We will pay tribute to her passion for flavor and her dedication to our community,” Andrew said.
“She was my whole bloody world,” Andrew said.
Saturday, October 26 is Alison and Andrew’s 28th wedding anniversary.
“Til death us do part,” Andrew said.
He invites everyone to come and buy the last of Alison’s spices. All he asks is people donate to cystic fibrosis research – he will have a donation tin there.
“Let’s celebrate the joy she brought through her culinary creations and remember her impact on our lives,” Andrew said.
“Your presence would mean a lot as we share stories, honor her memory, and continue her mission of bringing joy through spices.”
Come to the market at Crawford Square Park, South Casino from 8am. There will be a service for Alison at 12.30pm.
Andrew encourages everyone to consider donating their organs.
Alison’s lung transplant gave her six years of life she wouldn’t have had and it meant she got to see her son grow into an adult.
More information about organ donation is available here.
Read our previous story about Alison here.