Excellent role model

It is hard to believe Lina Borg Costanzi is gone; our dearest aunt and beloved friend. We still look out for her jogging or walking with her faithful dog and miss her terribly on Sunday mornings when we would meet for a chat and some coffee.

She was an excellent role model and certainly set an example for all of us both on a personal and professional level. Her passion for life and for everything that is beautiful was endless; she would wake up in the early hours of the morning thinking: "The day is too short, there's too much to do!"

She was always there and never had an unkind word for anyone, seeing only the positive in each and every one of us. We never heard her complain; she was forever smiling and offering words of practical wisdom and encouragement which would fill us all with courage and hope.

She was blessed with a number of talents which she generously shared with others, plus a strong determination to give her best - as she always did with her jogging, which she took up with a great deal of courage when she was 60, and the computer course which she decided to follow later in life. She seemed to be forever young, with friends spanning a number of generations - she would always listen to everyone and her advice and positive thinking helped more people than she could ever imagine.

We always awaited her annual participation in the Malta Half Marathon, where she was full of encouragement and enthusiasm for others to take up running. We really enjoyed seeing her after a race when she would proudly wear her hard earned medals and trophies (first lady over 75!). How ironic it is that she passed away on the morning of her favourite race, the Mdina/Spinola race, at which most of her running friends heard the sad news.

She did so much for the Ladies Running Club as one of its founder members, working hard for sponsorship for their annual race. With her charisma and charm, no one could ever say no to her!

Our loss is great, and things will never be the same without her, but she now rests in peace in a better world.

Now that the shock of her loss is beginning to subside, we feel so fortunate to have known her and to have learnt so much from her advice and example.

Our thoughts are with all her beloved family who will undoubtedly miss her dearly. She will always be in our thoughts and prayers.