LEITH - Rita's family would like to express sincere appreciation to all who have sent messages of sympathy and support to us following her passing. She was a much loved lady who was supported by good friends, and will clearly be sorely missed by many. We also wish to thank all the healthcare professionals who looked after Rita during this final illness, namely; all the doctors and staff at Crown Medical Practice, Jenn, the respiratory nurse; Mary and Connie and all their colleagues within the community nursing team; the out of hours team manning the palliative care helpline; all the carers from Gateway; Julie Macmillan Nurse, Marie Curie staff; the SOS team; Ambulance Service; and all friends and neighbours who helped her and were involved in her care, you know who you are. You all enabled Rita to stay at home during her illness and for this we will be eternally grateful. We would like to inform family and all good friends who could not attend due to the situation around social distancing, that we were able to have a very small family funeral service for her, despite the current restrictions; and we would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the Rev. Farquhar Forbes for leading what was a very personal and comforting service. Also, thank you to Ross Fairfield for playing the organ, Neavan, for playing some of Rita's favourite hymns on saxophone and singing "The Rose" for her, as was her request; Angela Hunter for fashioning a beautiful spray which included flowers and foliage from Rita's beloved garden. Sincere thank you to Sarah Maclean and her colleagues from John Fraser & Son, Chapel Street, Inverness, for sensitive funeral arrangements, including facilitating some close family members to be able to join us via Skype. Thank you all. "May the Lord, mighty God; bless and keep you for ever".
