Gail was a beautiful woman, inside and outside, who lived a beautiful life. Kind, thoughtful honest, and loving, she respected and cared for people. And this was actively expressed. She gave time and energy to people. Strong and brave, she always took sides and the side she took was always whether people were being treated fairly and equally or needed help. She said herself that these values were what made life meaningful. And she died saying she had felt lucky to have wonderful family and friends.

She was a great cook. She loved elephants. She was a vegetarian since 1986, because she didn't want any animal to be killed on her account. She liked colour. She liked going to art class. She liked birds and trees, and walking in the bush, and the West Coast.

She was spiritual though not religious. Gail had cancer and this caused her death. But she won her battle with cancer because she never even once complained and she never ever lost her dignity and her grace.

At Gail's goodbye gathering, many people took the chance to speak about Gail, and the unanimous theme was that she had lived a beautiful life.

If you look at the service sheet, you will see Gail on a beach in Kerala, India. On the back is a quote from the Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore, superimposed on a photo of Harbour Cone, Otago Harbour, just as it looks from our house at dusk.

Service Information: Date: Time: Location: 11/08/2018 2:00 p.m. Chalmers Lounge Port Chalmers Dunedin