Dedicated to my mother, Clare Fiona Maluda, who passed away on August 10th, 2020 at 2:16pm. I read this at her funeral.
Good morning everyone, thank you all for coming. I'd like to begin with a verse from the First Epistle of Peter.
'Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.'1 Peter 3:3-4
My mother was a gentle and quiet spirit. She touched the world in many different ways. And she made her own choices in life, right until the end.
Education mattered to her. Growing up, she was an excellent student. Her passion for learning led her to study all the way on the other side of the world in Massachusetts, where she graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching. My mother always remembered her time there fondly. She loved the United States. I wouldn't be here otherwise.
She was also the one who gave me my love of reading. Some of my fondest memories are of going to the library together, from New Hampshire back when I was a little boy to here in Sabah today. We’d borrow new books and go out for pizza and ice cream together. Looking back, it’s these little things that stand out the most. I’m glad that we made so many treasured memories.
My mom also loved nature. She enjoyed gardening and being outdoors, and could grow anything under the sun. When I was young we went hiking and took long walks in the forest. We had our fair share of adventures.
She would always encourage me with my writing, even though we had different interests. As a writer herself, she inspired me with the beauty of the written word.
To her family, she was a daughter, sister, aunty, granddaughter, grandaunty, cousin, and niece. To others, she was a colleague and a friend. Kind and generous to a fault, she would never fail to put others first. She was a light in all of our lives.
And to me, she was my mother. I love her more than words can say. She will be dearly missed.
Thank you.
