Lucy Grech

Kathy Buff writes...

For many of us, witnessing a well-attended funeral is evidence enough of a life well-spent and a life rich with family and friends.

Aunty Lucy was someone special to each one of those present. To me, she was my mother’s sister – my aunt – my godmother and so much more. She has been a strong, shining influence throughout my life and I feel so privileged to have been a small part of her life’s journey.

My mother was Aunty Lucy’s little sister. Together they were like “twiddle-dee and twiddle-dum”. My mother was always the naughty one but together they egged each other on, with irrepressible giggling and merry-making. One of my memories from an early age is of the two of them talking and talking, laughing and laughing.

Aunty Lucy was probably the most generous person I have ever known. When my mother married my English father in Malta, according to tradition, she lacked “something borrowed”. Aunty Lucy in­sisted that she would take her gold chain, that she habitually wore with a pendant, as a borrowed item but she didn’t want it back after the wedding. She wanted my mother to have it as a memento of their closeness.

That was Aunty Lucy, always a giver, never reluctant to part with material things. As I grew up, I moved from coming to Malta as part of my mother’s family to coming on my own as a teenager and then a young adult . . . and then coming with my own family.

Aunty Lucy has always been so generous with that most precious thing of all – her time.

When my now son-in-law wanted to propose to my daughter it was Aunty Lucy who offered the loan of her house in Fort Chambray so that he could surprise her with a visit to Gozo and to propose on the walls of the fort. She was part of the secret preparations and it thrilled her.

Her talent at cooking is legendary. Aunty Lucy’s ability to produce massive volumes of good food was extraordinary. She baked the most delicious pastries and cakes, so delicious that they would quite literally melt in your mouth.

Her ability to produce this wonderful food complemented her desire to give out to others.

As a teenager I spent long periods of time in the summer with Aunty Lucy and her children. She willingly gave me her car keys and these were some of the happiest times of my childhood. I loved being included in such a lovely big family and I have many happy memories. I found leaving to go back to England very, very hard.

My bed in England is graced by one of Aunty Lucy’s beautiful hand knitted bed covers. She was very talented in knitting and crocheting. Even during her illness, Aunty Lucy was thinking of others and making other people happy.

Aunty Lucy has taught me so much. I have admired so many of her values. I think four things have impressed me the most.

Her love: She was always giving out to others. She always, always saw the positive in people. When she came into a room she brought a beautiful feeling with her. That positivity was very powerful and helped sustain her through the most difficult of times.

Her kindness: She showed me the power of simply being kind. Almost unfashionable in modern society, kind acts can touch others so deeply. I am sure that there are many of us today who can remember a kindness that Lucy did for them.

Inseparable from these values was her devotion to her family. She was totally, utterly devoted to them. She derived so much pleasure from simply being around them. She was completely and selflessly devoted to their welfare and happiness. This included her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, her nieces and nephews and her great nieces and nephews and, of course, her siblings.

Finally, Aunty Lucy had a strong and deep Christian faith that helped her to sustain her through these last difficult years. She knew the love of God. Her faith didn’t waver even in the darkest of days. I am so glad that she had this relationship with God and I am confident that she is now looking into the gentle face of Our Lord.

We shall miss her terribly.

Thank you, Lucy, and God bless.