“Mary Fenech Adami chose the path of God the father, as that which would lead her to eternal life,” Birkirkara Provost Fr Anthony Cassar told the congregation that packed the church for the funeral of the much-loved former First Lady.

Mrs Fenech Adami passed away last Friday afternoon, after she was hospitalised following a heart attack at the wedding reception of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s son the previous Saturday.

Mrs Fenech Adami, wife of President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, died at 3pm on Friday at the age of 77. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband and five children, John, Maria, Beppe, Michael and Luigi.

Fr Cassar went on to say that Mrs Fenech Adami recognised that God is the way, the truth and the life, and saw God’s kingdom, which she is now enjoying, as the ultimate goal.

He recalled how Mrs Fenech Adami’s enthusiasm, advice and courage revealed that she had understood God’s message in the gospels.

“She recognised the importance of blending daily life with her spiritual life,” he said, adding that her roles as a mother and a wife made it clear that she was putting her talents to good use, as God wants.

Dr Fenech Adami read the first reading, and the second reading was read by their daughter Maria. The bidding prayers were read by their nephews and nieces, who prayed that like their grandmother, with God’s help, they too may be patient and adaptable.

“Nanna issa jagħmel ta’ fuq” (Nanna, it is now in God’s hands), one of her nephews and nieces, of whom she was very proud, said during the bidding prayers.

One of her nephews recalled how their nanna used to call them ‘it-tezori ta’ hajti (her life’s treasures) and prayed that she may now be receiving her treasure in heaven, while another recalled how she would always find a way to give them sweets from her special cupboard, and prayed that they too may be as generous.

A funeral cortege, which started from the PN club in Valley Road and proceeded along High Street, carried the coffin of Mrs Fenech Adami past the house she shared with her family for so many years, towards St Helen Basilica.

President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami walked immediately behind his wife’s coffin, accompanied by his sons, daughter, nephews and nieces. The road was heavily lined by friends and neighbours, wanting to pay tribute to the much-loved former first lady.

As the cortege stopped for a short while outside the home which she had loved and lived in for so long, the crowd broke out into loud, and seemingly never-ending, applause.

It was abundantly clear that the people of Birkirkara truly loved and identified with Mrs Fenech Adami, as red-rimmed eyes, sniffling or wiping away a tear were a common sight.

Mrs Fenech Adami, who was born in Sliema, was First Lady between 2004 and 2009 and always preferred to live in their Birkirkara home, rather than at San Anton Palace, which Presidents of Malta use as an official residence.

Her day would start at around 7am, when she would go to Mass, before going shopping and then attending to her duties at home, and in her role as the President’s wife.

In spite of the attack by a mob on their Birkirkara home in 1979, Mrs Fenech Adami always tried to take a conciliatory role, and believed that differing political beliefs were not enough to divide the people.

“She was the best, such a charitable woman, who would stop to speak to everyone. She would often sit next to me at Mass. We will miss her greatly,” Mari Ebejer, who lives opposite the Fenech Adami residence, said.

Her cousin recounted how she would go to the market on Wednesdays and Fridays, carrying her shopping bag, but would often go back with it still empty as she would have spent her time chatting with people.

The square in front of St Helen’s Basilica was teeming with people awaiting the arrival as the cortege made its way in – and it erupted into another round of applause, which became deafening as the coffin was carried up the church stairs by her sons and family members, including an emotional Beppe Fenech Adami.

The President of Malta, George Abela, accompanied by his wife Margaret, led the congregation. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his wife Kate and Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle were also present.

Various ministers and Nationalist MPs were present, as well as various Labour MPs.

The congregation also included Archbishop Paul Cremona, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and Auxiliary Bishop Annetto Depasquale as well as former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, prominent heart surgeon Alex Manche and Police Commissioner John Rizzo.

Tenor Joseph Calleja, who paid tribute to Mrs Fenech Adami at his concert on Saturday, sang at the end of the funeral Mass.

Parliament’s Speaker Michael Frendo described her as a special and humble woman, who never had a bad word to say about anyone, and Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono described her as an inspiration, from whom we can all learn a great deal.

Sister Teresa Tartaglia described her as a good and courageous woman, who loved her family and helping the poor. “She was a good Catholic woman who knew how to love and bring her family together,” she said.

“The number of people present today are testament of how loved she was,” Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg said after the funeral, commenting that although a number were there out of respect for her husband, a good number were there for her, as the charitable acts she had done will not be forgotten.

She would go out there and speak to the people, and was a fixture at the market, he said, adding that the Old Testament reading which spoke of an ideal woman might have been speaking about Mrs Fenech Adami.

Some members of the public who were outside the Basilica after the funeral described her as a good woman, who spoke to everyone and was never aloof. They recalled how she never missed her morning Mass.

The scene as the coffin of Mrs Fenech Adami was carried out of the church is best described as moving, as the crowd erupted into claps as her coffin was conveyed towards the car which would take it to the cemetery.

“She was the best, such a charitable woman, who would stop to speak to everyone. She would often sit next to me at Mass. We will miss her greatly”