Monday, 24th November 2008 - 10:13CET
Update 3: Prime Minister's mother passes away
Inez Gonzi walks arm in arm with her son following his swearing in as Prime Minister. Photo: Media.Link.
(Adds Dr Gonzi's appreciation for expressions of solidarity expressed by readers, Parliament's condolences)
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's mother, Inez, 86, passed away last night.
Informed sources said the death was sudden at home in Valletta.
She is survived by her husband Louis and four children: Sr Margaret, Lawrence, Michael, who is also an MP, and Paulanne.
The funeral will be held tomorrow at 10 am at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Valletta.
The Labour Party expressed its condolences to the Gonzi family and said that party leader Joseph Muscat had been in touch with the Prime Minister to personally express his condolences.
Azzjoni Nazzjonali in a statement expressed its condolences to the Prime Minister. "We send our thoughts and prayers to him and his family at this difficult time, the party said.
Alternattiva Demokratika Chairman, Arnold Cassola, in another statement of condolence said: "The loss of a mother represents a void in one's life that can never be filled. Alternattiva Demokratika is close to Prime Minister Gonzi and his family in this moment of deep sorrow".
Paul Borg Olivier, general secretary of the Nationalist Party expressed the party's condolences, praising Mrs Gonzi for her sense of solidarity and community spirit.
The board of directors and executive management of SmartCity expressed their sympathy with the Prime Minister and announced that the Ground Breaking Ceremony of Phase One, due to have taken place tomorrow, has been postponed.
The House of Representatives this evening expressed its condolences to the Prime Minister and Nationalist MP Michael Gonzi for their loss.
Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg said he remembered Mrs Gonzi for her prudence and humility, even though one of her sons was the Prime Minister and another was an MP.
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said he had spoken to the Prime Minister and could understand the great loss the family were suffering.
The Speaker, Dr Louis Galea said he also remembered Mrs Gonzi for her strong family values.
(Dr Gonzi in a comment below thanked all those who had expressed solidarity with his family.)
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Comments
Brian Hansford
Alex and Silvana - Rabat
To every thing there is a season.....and a time to every purpose under heaven.
Deborah & Carmel Schembri
Manikata
25th November 2008
On behalf of my family and myself, we would like to express our sincere condolences during this difficult time. May the Lord grant her Eternal rest.
May God bless you and keep you all strong throughout this difficult time.
Family Borg
R.I.P.
Norbert Bugeja
Sincere condolences go to Dr.Gonzi and his family. May Inez Gonzi rest in peace.
Andrew & Diane
Maryse Hogan
Hamburg
May GOD be with you in these difficult moments. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Ian & MIchelle (Spiteri Bailey)
Attard
May she will be remembered in happy memories and may her life be celebrated as a gift to the Nation leaving a legacy of a wonderful family who serve our Nation. May her spirit will be always with her loved ones. We thank God for her life and pray for her family to accept what cannot be changed and may the Lord grant them comfort in this time of grief for her loss.
Antoinette Mascari
Paul Demajo Albanese and family
From: Joseph Ellul and Family, Sydney.
Sincere condolences
Losing a parent is probably one of the most difficult things to experience. We pray that her guardian angel has brought her to the Almighty Father, where she is now a witness to the Almighty's eternal love. God bless her and your family.
John Cassar
Melbourne Australia.
David & Family.
From Family Scicluna,
Birkirkara
Many of us have suffered the same loss but could not grieve with family because of the tyranny of distance.
It is therefore with a special and highly poignant sentiment that we join with our Maltese brothers and sisters of all persuasions in remembering Mrs Gonzi, and with her all the mothers who saw their children leave.
May God comfort the Gonzi family in this hour. May the death of this lady "a humble mother of the nation", which has evoked highly Christian sentiments from all quarters, serve to diminish divisions and enhance feeling of brotherhood amongst our people.
George M. Boffa
On behalf of our members we wish to extend our condolences and deepest sympathy to you and your family on the sad loss of your mother. May God grant her Eternal rest.
Capt James Fenech
President ALPA
May God bless you and keep you all strong throughout this difficult time.
Sincere Condolonces and may your Mother rest in Peace.
Chris.Borg. and family.
My deepest condolences to all the Gonzi families during such a difficult time.
alfred and familiy
Bernard Cauchi & Family
FROM ANTHONY GRECH AND FAMILY
May the dear lord grant her eternal peace. Our prayers are with you during this difficult moment.
Families Ellul and Costantino.
From Family Grech St,Julian`s
Godfrey , Susan and Family Cosaitis.
Birkirkara
On behalf of all paramedic workers, we were deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of your mother Inez,
I know how difficult this must be for you and your family. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
We all remember the proud look in her eyes when you were sworn in as PM.
We all know how much you will miss your mother. I encourage you to draw on your strength and the strength of your family.
May God bless you and your family during this time and always.
Jeremy Lanfranco
on behalf of APHP
Saviour Sammut Hal Safi
From
Family Borg (Attard)
When a person dies and his body ceases to function, he experiences life on the level of the soul and the light of the soul, which we cannot observe. To us she is dead - in reality, though she continues to exist in another state.
In this difficult moment, it may be a condolence to know that this women was blessed on this earth seeing the children she brought up held in good esteem because of the values she taught them.
George and Monica Mifsud
grace and family remen-cassar,
Belgium
She is in our prayers
Luke Mizzzi
Philip Fenech
My deepest and sincere condolence to Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Lawrence Gonzi and all his family members in this sad moment, May God be with you in this time.
And May Allah rests her soul at peace and may Allah grant her eternal heaven, and may Allah be pleased with her.
Laiq Ahmed Atif - Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta
Lawrence Gonzi
Prime Minister
24th November 2008
Parents give a lot to their children. We can never repay their love and gratitude. They are never after a reward in return. But after their passsing away they will only need our prayers.
May she rest in peace in the arms of the Lord.
Michael and Beatrice Bonnici
Haz-Zebbug.
May God help you all through this difficult time.
Tom A. Restall and family
Our deepest and sincere condolences.
Along with my family and staff we would like to give our deepest condolences to D.Gonzi’s family.
Albert Gauci Cunningham & family
Jillian & Charles Micallef
Qawra
In the seeds of this life we find hope for a better life to come.....May it comfort you to know that your loved wife/mother is now at peace.
Sincere condolences to all her family.
Our deepest condolences to our Prime Minister and his family, for the loss of his beloved mother.
Death is the contiuation of Life.
May her sourl rest in peace with the Lord, forever in His heavenly Kingdom.
Amen.
../..
May the knowledge that we are all thinking of you at this sad time bring you comfort.
May the Lord grant her eternal life.
Manuel Mifsud
Frank Pullicino and family.
In moments like this, we empathise with the relatives who feel the grief and the void of their most beloved. May God help you all to take solace in the fact that the departed is interceding for you all with the Almighty.
God bless you all.
Lucienne and Jo Said
Julia & Evarist Saliba
Our condolences to Dr. Gonzi and all his family, and is-Sur Gig and the rest of the family Gonzi.
May God grant her eternal rest and may the perpetual light shine upon her forever and ever, Amen.
..
Antoine Zammit
Secretary
PN St. Paul's Bay
ALBERT and TILDE FENECH
Qawra
Stefan Grech & family
Brussels
My sincere condolances to The Prime Minister and all of his family for the loss of his beloved mother.. May she rest in peace..
MIKE MAGRI & FAMILY.
As an ex-neighbour of Mrs Gonzi I can write the above with my mind at rest about its accuracy.
I'm sorry to hear of the death of your mother. My condolences to you and your family.
May she rest in peace, in Heaven for eternity, GOD Bless her soul.