IN what would be his last words, Launceston neurologist Stan Siejka spoke of his children, diagnosed his mortal injuries and thanked New Zealand ski field attendants and paramedics for coming to his aid.
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Leaders of Launceston's medical, political and legal communities were among 700 people who gathered yesterday at the Church of the Apostles for a mass of thanksgiving for the life of Dr Siejka.
The 51-year-old father of four died on September 10 at a Christchurch hospital of injuries he sustained in a skiing accident.
Eulogies were delivered by three of the neurologist's children - Dylan, Timothy and Meg - and colleagues and mentors Professor Berni Einoder and WA neurologist Wally Knezevic.
Father Richard Ross led the mass to "remember those 51 well- lived years".
In his eulogy Dr Knezevic said Dr Siejka reached for the stars, light and sun.
"When reaching for the stars, he slipped," Dr Knezevic said.
"In his last breath he had passion."
Dr Siejka's final words were passed on to his brother John by the paramedic who attended the dying doctor on the ski field.
In his eulogy, Dr Knezevic related the conversation:
"He knew he was mortally injured and told the attendant that he had a fractured T-4 (fourth thoracic vertebra)," Dr Knezevic said.
"He realised what had happened and diagnosed his injury."
Before he lost consciousness Dr Siejka was able to let New Zealand officials know where his children were staying.
Repeatedly, his last words were for the children and thanks to the attendant and paramedic, Dr Knezevic said.
Dr Siejka had severe internal bleeding, spinal and pelvic injuries and did not regain consciousness before he died, he said.
The paramedic told John Siejka that of the 10 deaths he had seen on the South Island mountains, Stan had approached death with no terror or fear.
During the service, symbols of the doctor's life were placed on his coffin by friends and family. They included a ski beanie, a Geelong Football Club scarf, a football, photographs of Binalong Bay, his bicycle and a tendon (reflex) hammer.
Dr Knezevic said Dr Siejka was the brother he never had and a soul mate. As a doctor he was gifted with a sixth sense, "which is so important when you are practising medicine", Dr Knezevic said.
While Dr Siejka could have worked anywhere in the world, he chose Launceston to be close to his family - parents Mary and Jan, brother John and sisters Lucy (Melbourne) and Irena (Hobart).
"I told him that Launceston was no Mayo Clinic (Rochester, New York), Dr Knezevic said.
Dr Siejka had replied that we make our own personal Mayo Clinic - "we have them in us".
In their eulogies Dr Siejka's children remembered joyful times with their father.
Timothy reflected on a father who showed his children a world most people only dream of - "deep, white, soft snow and beautiful mountain tops".
Meg smiled when she remembered the grin that exploded on her father's face when he was unexpectedly dumped by a wave at Binalong Bay.
Dylan said: "Snow falls and snow melts" and he said he was comforted to know the spirit of his father was "in the hills".
Father Ross said he would not try and comfort the mass with pious waffle.
"My advice, for what it's worth, is not to mask the pain ... the pain is borne of love ... allow it to shape who you are and how you choose to live," Father Ross said.
Pallbearers were Dr Siejka's sons Dylan and Timothy, his younger brother John, twin nephews David and John Brewster and Bill Connell.
Mourners were invited to gather at the nearby Cataract Bistro.
The family attended a private internment at the Carr Villa Cemetery.
