I have known Anita for all my years in the Swedish Church, where both Anita and Joe, have been regular visitors for many more years than I have been there.
Giving your time, support and love in so many ways.
 
Anita was a beautiful lady with a great smile.
There was an aura of great warmth around her.
She was indeed a woman with a big heart.
Pleasant, supportive and always positive.
And with that glittering glimpse in her eyes, ready to deliver a smile or a heartily laughter.
Anita was the one who never wished for anything else  but good for others.
Taking great interest in someone else’s wellbeing and care for everybody’s safety and comfort.
She had a genuine compassion and love for those around her.
 
Anita was always very generous and both of you have given so much of both your time and love to the Swedish Church.
Anita was always engaged in our Christmas Fairs, coming with warm and inspiring energy to all of us.
 
As she did with our Lucia services, where she with great pride always wore
a national costume, proud of being Swedish in our big cathedrals.
With her presence you always felt safe and comfortable.
Nothing could go wrong and nothing was impossible.
 
And in many ways Anita was a Lucia herself.
She had a warm loving heart caring for others.
Bringing light and hope to wherever she was.
 
And for us here today we have the light and hope of Lucia in God.
God has promised to be with throughout time.
Let us take comfort in the loving God who is beyond what we can grasp:
 
“See, the home of God is among all humans.
He will dwell with them; they will be his people and God himself will be with them.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”
 
God says:
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go
and I will bring you back to this land.
I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you.
 
Jesus said: I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life
Through Jesus Christ we have eternal life.
Death isn’t the end.
Nobody shall be lost or be turned away.
God, who gave us the life we know also gave us the life beyond our understanding.
 
“There is a path to heaven, a path to God’s Jerusalem.
It starts right here it starts right now.
Wherever it may lead, it leads to God.”
 
From beginning of time God has been there  and to the end God will be with us.
God is here today and for the days to come, throughout our lives all the way to eternity.