"My mum was always in the middle of everything, she was at the centre of whatever was happening, but when the focus of attention was directly on her she hated it. I never thought that I would be standing here talking about my mum. I know everyone here will have a part of my mum with them now, she would make sure of that as she was the warmest , most loving, giving person that I ever knew. My mum used to say to me “when your time’s up, your time’s up,” and I know that many of you here had that conversation with my mum, she always knew that she would die young. My mum was such a strong believer in fate, she believed that everything happened for a reason and would tell me this all the time- she would say to me “what will be will be.” My mum used to say to me “life’s too short”, she was by far the strongest person that I ever knew and had a very difficult life herself, because of her experience and strength she used to tell me all the time; “you never know what you can deal with until you are faced with it, and then somehow you find the strength to pull through.” My mum was my world. She has always been the only constant stability and security that I have ever had in my life. She would comfort me by saying: “ I know chick” and she did know, she understood everything. My mum never let me down ever, and she was always there for my brother and I and anyone else who needed her, she made everything right and everything perfect. I have lost count of the amount of times that I would go to her with problem after problem, drama after drama, often problems that I had created for myself, but she always had the answers, the right answers, practical or emotional issues, anything and everything she made better. I’d moan to her that: “it isn’t fair mum”, her response always was; “Life isn’t fair Rachel.” Only a couple of months ago mum said to me that it must be awful to go through life knowing that you had not made a difference to other people. My mum gave more to me and taught me more in 30 years than most people give to others in a lifetime. She idolised her family and never put herself first. I am so privileged to have her as my mum and I feel so very proud and honoured. She was not just my mum, she was my best friend, and I know many of you feel that way about her too. My mum made everything so easy and manageable. I believe that she chose to leave now, knowing that she had passed her strength to Chris and I and that we would now be here for each other, just like she was, unconditionally there for each of us. My mum has given me the skills to make my own decisions and I know she will continue to guide and influence me, just as she always has. My mum prepared me for this, the values and morals that my mum taught me will empower me to go on in my life and will enable me to live my life, with my mum constantly by my side. She is with me now and with everyone who needs her, just as she always was and always will be."