Mary Fenech Adami was given a fitting send-off in her hometown of Birkirkara, a place where she was loved and cherished.

Mrs Fenech Adami broke the mould. She was wife of the leader of the opposition during violent times, wife of the Prime Minister through times of great reform and later wife of the President of Malta, the First Lady.

She was her own woman, a pillar of strength for her family and, no doubt, her husband in times of need or doubt. All throughout, she succeeded in remaining down to earth and perhaps, even stubbornly, refusing to leave her roots.

Mrs Fenech Adami raised five children, and perhaps her toughest moment was when she led her children to escape from their house, over the roof of a neighbour, as thugs looted and ransacked the family home.

Raising five children is a job enough, but to do it in the times that she did, and under the pressures that she faced, is nothing short of a triumph. As she got older, everyone loved to recount anecdotes of Mrs Fenech Adami stopping for a chat, here and there, as she went about her daily chores. She remained firmly rooted to the ground, unshakeable and typifying the resoluteness of a generation that we are fast losing.

Even when she was thrust into a more prominent role, as First Lady, she excelled – not through pomp and fanfare, but her willingness to work for good causes and to champion the rights of the downtrodden.

She never sought praise, nor recognition; she did what she did throughout her life because she felt duty-bound to do so. Always ready to help, without a thought for herself.

Our thoughts are with the Fenech Adami family, losing such a companion, mother and grandmother cannot be easy, and they will feel the void. Perhaps, in touching irony, it will be her strength that they would normally look to, in order to help them through such a tough time.

There are not many people like Mrs Fenech Adami left, she was one of a dying breed. If we all did some soul searching, we could learn some lessons from her, and other people like her. Our population is getting older. The people of Malta’s modern formative years are all getting on in age, and we really should appreciate them while they are still with us.

Mrs Fenech Adami was a very special woman. Quite how she managed to retain the character and values that she did in such tumult, is a bit of a mystery. But manage it she did, with stoicism, a ready smile and a willingness to pitch in and do the work herself.

Malta has bid you farewell, but we are sure that in the years to come, there will still be anecdotes about the former First Lady from Birkirkara who remained simple, steadfast and genuine till her dying day. We will all remember her fondly, but perhaps especially so, the women at the shops who used to chat with her as she had chatted with others all her life. Rest in peace Mrs Fenech Adami, you were a true stalwart.