A well-attended Mass concelebrated by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech was said at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu last week. President Emeritus Edward Fenech-Adami and his family attended. It was a fitting tribute to a wife of a great statesman.

“Both of you must have endless patience with one another”, were the words of wisdom given to my wife and I by Mary Fenech-Adami on our wedding day just over a decade ago. Words engraved in our hearts and which we have both followed ever since. Then, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech-Adami was one of our witnesses to our marriage in Zebbug in Gozo and Mary accompanied him. She told us those words with her usual smile, honesty and humility, but they meant the world to us. That phrase encapsulates not only how our lives should be, but also how her life was.

Being the wife of a Leader of the Opposition in dangerous times to say the least, then wife of the longest-serving prime minister in our history and finally First Lady to the president is life-long service to our nation. We as a country were fortunate to have such a great couple like Dr Edward and Mary Fenech-Adami in such a momentous period in our history. Mary like Eddie has given great service to this country. May she rest in peace.

Raymond C. Xerri

QALA