Anna Ruggier writes:

Lilian was a loving sister, godmother and cousin as she used to tell me jokingly and lovingly: “I am your sister, your godmother and your cousin.” She had a great sense of humour.

We had many things in common. She was the youngest from papa’s first marriage to auntie Anna, this being the reason she did not know her mother as she died aged 30, when she was only three. I was the youngest from papa’s second marriage to auntie Anna’s sister, Mary, my dear mother. We all loved each other equally.

I thank God for having given us such a nice family.

When auntie Anna fell ill, Mary, Alfred (my brother) and Lilian stayed at nanna’s for nearly five years. It was decided that Lilian remain at nanna’s for good.

In her youth, Lilian lived in Marsascala where my dear uncle Tarcisio was parish priest for some 19 years.

I was only 13 months old when papa died.

Lilian loved all our cousins and she was loved back by all of them. Her funeral was testimony to this. Lilian was a faithful friend to all who knew her, including her helpers and friends from Balzan, Marsascala and Żabbar.

A big thank you goes to all those who helped her during her illness at Mater Dei Hospital and at Mosta and Msida homes respectively.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank one of my best friends and former colleague at the Times of Malta, Mary Spiteri, for attending her funeral.

I would also like to thank my brother, Alfred, who came all the way from Canada for the funeral, his sons and daughters who were all very dear to her, Mother Tarcisia, of the Ursuline Sisters, who was always there for her, and, last but not least, my brother, Edgar, who was always near her for a long number of years and her nieces Isabelle and Natalie who were of great support during her illness. She deserved to be cared for the same way she looked after all of us.