On Thursday, First Lady Melania Trump eulogized her late mother, Amalija Knavs, during a funeral service at a church not far from the family’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
She commemorated her mother as “a ray of light in the darkest of days.”
“On the breathtaking, aquamarine shores of [Croatia’s] Dalmatian coast, she adored the radiant sun, as the golden rays sun-kissed her skin as she strolled along the beautiful waters,” the former first lady said.
“In the following years, she often texted me gorgeous snapshots of mother nature’s landscapes.”
The former first lady discussed her son, Barron Trump, and his relationship with his grandmother.
“She left the familiarity of her homeland in order to be with her newborn grandson in the United States. He was my mother’s compass and focus. With each step she took, she embraced the privilege bestowed upon her and, in time, the privilege of becoming a U.S. citizen,” she said.
“She exuded an exquisite sense of pride as my husband became the president of the United States and as I embarked on a grand odyssey.”
The former first lady told People last year that Barron used to call his grandmother and speak to her in Slovene.
“She showered her grandson Barron with affection,” the former first lady said in her eulogy. “She embodied the best mother, wife, grandmother, mother-in-law — a true beacon of love and luxury in our lives.”
Melania, a longtime model, credited her mother, a textile patternmaker, with introducing her to fashion.
“From managing the household to pursuing her own ambition in fashion, she never ceased to amaze with her determination,” the former first lady said. “Often in the late hours of the evenings, we sketched designs and made patterns together.”
The former first lady said she always found peace in the presence of her mother and that her mother was always there to listen.
“In her presence, the world seemed to shimmer with radiance and joy,” Melania Trump said during a eulogy as her husband, former President Donald Trump, sat nearby. “Our bond was unbreakable.”
The former first lady said her mother celebrated her family’s triumphs and supported them during difficult times. She said she would remember the laughter that accompanied travels with her mother, father and sister and “conversations that flowed effortlessly with grace and charm.”
“Rest in peace my beloved mother,” Melania Trump said before stepping down from the pulpit.
She then stood in front of her mother’s casket, touched her fingers to her lips and placed them on the casket.
Among the guests who arrived before the start of the private service for Knavs at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea were two of Donald Trump’s children from previous marriages, Tiffany Trump and Ivanka Trump.
Also in attendance were the former president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
Take a look —
At midmorning, a hearse pulled up in front of the church followed by an SUV carrying the former president and first lady and two other vehicles with their Secret Service detail.
Wearing a black dress and sunglasses, Melania Trump and her father, Viktor Knavs, led a procession up to the church, followed by the former president and their son, Barron.
Donald Trump spent Tuesday and Wednesday attending a defamation trial in New York to determine how much he owes former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll.
Trump’s lawyers had asked the judge to delay the trial for a day to allow him to attend the funeral, but that request was denied. Trump chose to skip Thursday’s court session rather than miss the funeral or move it to Friday when the trial isn’t scheduled to be in session.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.