Carmen Galea, Maria Bartolo Galea write:

It is said that “teachers plant seeds of knowledge that will last forever” and this is certainly the case with regard to Frances Gatt.

It was a real shock when we learnt that Ms Mangion, as she is still affectionately known by her former students, had passed away at such a young age. More so because the picture of her we still hold in mind is of a young beautiful lady with blue smiling eyes.

We got to know Ms Mangion when, way back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, she used to teach at the Birżebbuġa primary school. Due to her positive attitude, her enthusiasm and bubbly character, she was a favourite with all students. We were lucky enough to have been in her class not once but twice - year one and six.

We can still clearly recall the days when she used to lay down a large carpet in her classroom and make us sit around her and listen her reading to us The Young Adventurers And The Hidden Treasures by Enid Blyton. All of us used to be mesmerised with her voice and the way she animated the story. I am sure this helped to foster in us a love for reading.

We can also remember that, with the help of other teachers, she was in charge of the school’s netball team and she used to prepare us for the schools’ tournament.

In May, the month dedicated to Our Lady, she used to read in Maltese short stories associated with Our Lady, the rosary and people that made some significant contribution to religion and society.

She found the time to do all this while preparing us for the very first Junior Lyceum entrance examination. She did this with great dedication and success because a large majority of her pupils (girls and boys) passed the examination. This, when the admitted number of students was rather small because there were only two Junior Lyceum – one in Blata l-Bajda for girls and another one at Ħandaq for the boys.

She was firm but never unkind. She was fun and encouraging.

She has gone but left behind a beautiful legacy in her past students who can, no doubt, attribute some nice trait in their character to her dedication.

Now she is with Our Saviour enjoying the fruits of her efforts and looking down on us smilingly proud.

Condolences to her husband, daughters and family. She was a treasure not only to them but to all those who were fortunate enough to have known her and whose lives she touched.

Lord grant her eternal peace.