I am grateful for the gift of knowing Janet. Maori have a word- Taonga which means treasure. This can be a precious object such as a carved greenstone pendant, stewarded but never owned. It can also be a person- infinitely precious and cherished. To me, Janet was taonga. She was comfortable in her skin, grounded in her faith and family, wise, trustworthy and deeply rooted in God. To spend time with her was to be accepted, heard and loved. Somehow she allowed you to be a better version of you-the one God designed you to be. She helped you to be connected with a loving Heavenly Father. She was fun, delighting in creating wonder- whether it was birthday picnics for children held in castle ruins, a beautiful patchwork or knitting, a friendly letter out of the blue or a simple meal of soup and bread. To spend time with her was a precious gift. I will cherish memories of time spent with her- fewer than I had wanted but still taonga. The song at the end of her tribute pointed to the promise of eternal life. In Maori legend, the white heron or Kotuku accompanies souls from the tip of Cape Reinga at the tip of the North Island of New Zealand , the spiritual place of departure back home to the world of their ancestors and Creator. I am certain that Janet has been taken home and that the same loving care that upheld her during her life and final illness is present for us all. I pray that John Ellie and Sally will know this and be embraced in love. The challenge for those of us still journeying is to trust , cherish the gift of life we have been given, be generous, loving and hold ourselves lightly. Janet's life is a witness to how this is possible with joy. Taonga indeed.