Wednesday, 5 February 2025

 Pauline RICHARDS (Cranbourne) (10:03): Just before Christmas we farewelled the brightest spark in our lives, Toni Frankiewicz, lost after a fierce battle with ovarian cancer. Godmother to my daughter Ruby and adored by Erin and Sophie and their father David, Toni spoke at every milestone in our family’s lives, including 18ths and 21sts. We always felt her love. Toni helped me and my family navigate every milestone with wisdom, common sense and an outrageous and infectious sense of love. You can take the girl out of Newcastle, but you cannot take Newcastle out of the girl.

My deepest condolences to the Frankiewicz and Robb clans north of the border. Thank you for sharing Toni with us. In particular I send my love to her adoring sisters Kim and Lee and her beloved Dom, Nick and Dakota. The McDonalds have lost a sister-in-law, but she was so much more than that. To Sophie and Matt Sullivan, Verity and Stuart, I know Toni was so much more than a sister-in-law, and to Ruby and Amelia, Kathleen and Will, I send my love. Sophie did an amazing job eulogising her beloved sister-in-law.

We lost our loyal friend, but Luke McDonald lost the love of his life. Married for three decades, they loved each other with a love bigger than Texas. Toni loved going to the races, so I also condole to her friends from race days, Jackie and her crew, and her friends and colleagues from Melbourne Health. Ovarian cancer is an insidious disease. Toni lived her life to the full. In her younger days she loved to dance on tables and in her final years she travelled to Poland and Türkiye with her beloved Luke. They travelled the world together. They loved so much. Vale, Toni Frankiewicz.