Hideko Adams

The mother who held a flannel to my head through feverish nights, cooked the best Japanese dishes for dinner and taught me different ways of folding origami paper. Her beautiful smile, wonderful laugh, and kind and generous nature will always be remembered.

I loved when mum was laughing and smiling. I remember as a child she tried teaching me Japanese and I learned how to write the characters, but not how to arrange them to form words. One day, I wrote pages of randomly placed characters to make sentences. I showed it to mum, and she started laughing at the nonsense I had written. She couldn't stop laughing until she cried, and I laughed with her. It made me so happy to see her beautiful face light up. And from then on when I wanted to hear her laugh, I would show her those pages again.

Hideko loved God's creation of nature; the animals, flowers and butterflies. She adored the neighbour's cat, the horses in the nearby fields, and the deer and ducks we would feed at country parks.

Mum was a great explorer and travelled to many countries of the world, making countless friends along the way. She gave so much, always helping other people through her care and thoughtfulness and loved and cherished those around her.

Hideko built a beautiful family and life with her husband and together they poured all of their love and care into their only child. We stuck by each other as a family and our bond grew stronger. Our little team.

Her strength and courage were greatly admired and respected. She was a fighter and fought the dementia for so many years. It was hard to watch her health decline, but she was still with us, her face beaming every time we came to visit, calling for her 'handsome' husband. It warmed my heart to see the love, loyalty and commitment blossom before me, with every visit. It was beautiful to watch their love grow stronger even as mum grew weaker.

Sonny never stopped loving you, mum, and never will. He is proud to have been your husband; loving you always. You are husband and wife, the miracle couple, who stayed together no matter what life threw at you; 14 years apart, 10 years of dementia, a spoilt child — you pulled through it all.

I am grateful and honoured to have had a mum as beautiful as you. I would like to thank you for everything you've done and the beautiful memories you have left me with. I will treasure those special moments for the rest of my life.

I have learned so much from your wonderful relationship. The meaning of love, loyalty, and strength. Your successful marriage is inspirational. I will continue to lead my life in the way you would be proud of.

You were and will continue to be my guardian angel, forever by my side. You mean so much to everyone here, you touched the hearts of many and your presence in this world will remain in our memories.

We will never forget you, Hideko.

My mother, Sonny's wife, and our friend.

A beautiful spirit.