Updated: Annabelle Vassallo was 'tsunami of love'

Annabelle Vassallo was a tsunami of love for all those who knew her, one of her closest friends, Fr Nicholas Cachia, said at her funeral this afternoon.

The apt description was made at the start of the funeral Mass for 39-year-old Annabel, who succumbed to cancer early yesterday after a five-year battle she waged with Christian fortitude and an infectious smile.

"Annabelle raised a tsunami of love which surprised everyone. For all of us, Annabelle meant something special. Annabelle was an inspiration of how we should live our life, an inspiration for all of us to make the best choice, the choice of Jesus Christ," Fr Nicholas said.

The funeral Mass, partly prepared by Ms Vassallo said, is being held at Siggiewi parish church and is meant to be a celebration of life - the running thread of Ms Vassallo's public speeches and the subject of her book Irrid Nghix.

A cortège was held along the main road of Siggiewi before the coffin was carried into the silent Church by some of Annabelle's friends.

She had repeatedly told her friends that she was not afraid of dying since the Lord had prepared a room for her and she was yearning to meet Him.

Fr Dione Cutajar, who delivered the homily, said Annabelle had prepared herself well for this moment to meet the Lord she loved. She had even picked the main celebrants for her funeral Mass.

She had been a fountain of love, inspirational in her suffering.

Her firm belief was that she lived her life for others, not for herself. She saw the positives in everyone and everything, even as she was burdened with the cross of cancer. She gave sense to her suffering.

The joy of living came when one sought to make others happy, as she had done.

Annabelle had built a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He was her friend, with whom she conversed all the time. Religion, for her, was not about rules. It was about recognition that Jesus was a personal friend.

The readings during the Mass were made by some of Annabelle's closest friends, who held back tears with difficulty. The bidding prayers included prayers for cancer patients and the doctors treating them.

Her parents, who led the mourners, took up the offerings.

The Church was packed with mourners, some of whom stood in the aisle.

At the end of the Mass, to applause, Fr Nicholas urged the congregation to heed Annabelle's last words - "I rejoice because I am alive".