We are all here to share our love and appreciation for Antonia, or Mum as I will refer to her from here on.

Mum always loved a bit of luxury and was keen to look good from a young age. In her younger days she made clothes for herself, including an evening dress from a pair of curtains – apparently a wonderful rich material. She was really proud of this clever use of material, until she went to an event at a big house and well her dress matched their curtains! Over the years she developed a distinct style, where every element was carefully matched up, dresses, trousers, shoes, watches, cardigans, even coats and handbags where she could. She loved colour and had items in every possible hue. This became her signature look! and she never blended into the background again.

I think everyone who has ever known mum would also be able to recognise and appreciate that she was one of the most hospitable and kind people you would ever hope to meet. Mum never turned away anyone who needed help or a bed, rarely has the family house and home been empty of waif’s and strays living there temporarily, including myself! Her charitable nature extended to family, friends, people from across the world and even quite a few exceptionally well loved dogs and other animals – and mum welcomed them all.

Mum always had an active interest in people, peace and faith. She hoped for the best for society and communities and she was committed to bringing about improvements in the way people live together. She embraced peace and feminism causes and truly hoped for and worked towards a more just and kind society. She was a strong and active member of the church and was involved in the Lay fraternity and Pax Cristi amongst others. Mum had a steadfast faith, she was guided by it and took comfort from it always.

Most of you will know that Mum had plenty of health issues over long period of time, but she was surprisingly bouncy, so much so that we had begun to believe she was invincible. She never let her health ruin her joy or interest in life even as her mobility and health declined. Throughout her life mum was very social and loved to go out when she could. She loved a bit of an audience and lit up if there were visitors or we were able to attend some sort of event where she could talk to and catch up with friends or make new ones! Her Christmas card list was extensive, and I know for sure that I have not been able to tell everyone who would have liked to know.

As I tried to create a recognisable glimpse of mum’s life and quirks. I realised that so much of her life related to the people in it, the people she cared about and who cared for her. Throughout her life mum created and maintained strong relationships. All the people in her life helped her to become or express who she was. So all of you who are here today, all of those who are no longer here or were unable to make mum’s funeral, all of you have had a hand in helping mum create the rich tapestry that was her life and I think we can say she had a full and rich life. Full of Joys (and sorrows), full of meaning and care – and a tremendous amount of colour!

When I was sorting through her pile by her chair, I discovered a bit of paper with the following Raymond Carver quote on it (an inscription on his tombstone titled ‘Late Fragment’). I have no idea why she wrote it down, but it obviously had meaning for her and very succinctly states something that I am sure and hope she felt very strongly. The quote is:

And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself beloved on the earth.

Yes I think mum got what she wanted and she was beloved.

We will all miss her so very much.