Benina Ciriavesi aged 102, was described as a woman of integrity who always stood by her moral teachings and beliefs.

This was the comment by Golden Age Home Caregiver Supervisor, 38-year-old Lusiana Lewabou while delivering the eulogy for Ms Ciriavesi during her funeral service yesterday at the home at Totoya St, Samabula.

Ms Lewabou said Ms Ciriavesi would always be remembered for her sense of humour.

“She was a source of inspiration and a blessing to us all, which reminded us that elderly citizens are the highest keepers of knowledge,” she said.

“She may have left us, but her legacy will remain and be forever cherished.

“Ms Ciriavesi was born on July 7, 1916. She hailed from Vione village in Gau, Lomaiviti.

“She was married to Dr Mesulame Tuigau and had a daughter. Her husband and daughter have passed on.

“Ms Ciriavesi had been living in the home since 2009 as she didn’t want to burden her family. She didn’t want to go back because she found a family who shared a common interest at the Golden Age Home.”

Meanwhile, 37-year-old Melissa Woo was emotional when she described what the late Ms Ciriavesi meant to her.

“I knew Bu Be (Ms Ciriavesi) when I was nine years old at Nakorovou Seventh-day Adventist Church. We would sacrifice one day to be vegetarian because Bu Be was a pure vegetarian.

“This became an occasion that we looked forward to every Sabbath”, Ms Woo said.

Ms Ciriavesi was laid to rest at Nasinu Cemetery.

Edited by Percy Kean