A strong-willed, loving and unselfish woman who always offered herself to help those in need, Fay Yvonne Tortello was the consummate giver.

The Mass of Celebration for the life of Fay Tortello, sister of former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, was held at the Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church recently.

The service was well attended by family members, several political representatives from the governing party, including Prime Minister Andrew Holness, well-wishers and friends. Tortello was remembered as a headstrong woman of great substance.

Tortello, who formerly served as the Italian consul to Jamaica, passed away on August 1. She died three days short of her 85th birthday.

In her role as Italian consul she proved to be a vital link between the Jamaican and Italian governments and their bilateral affairs. She orchestrated several projects between the two countries, with the cost-free upgrading of the Bustamante Hospital for Children and the rehabilitation of the Jamaica Public Service power plants in Old Harbour, St Catherine being two of the more significant ones.

In a touching tribute to her beloved friend “Mrs T”, Winsome Rowe recalled Tortello as a woman who was blessed with a vibrant spirit and whose kindness knew no bounds.

“Mrs T was a great help to many, many people both emotionally and financially” she said, adding that she was very proud to have known Tortello.

“I can stand before this congregation today and tell you all that I had the pleasure of knowing a very strong lady of great substance.”

Tortello, a Wolmer’s Girls School alumna, was known for possessing a very strong spirit and this was usually evident on the late Wilmot ‘Motty’ Perkins’ radio talk show, a platform where she participated in many debates and conversations covering a wide variety of topics, mainly politics.

She was a frequent caller who eventually became a fan favourite because of her distinct voice, humorous personality and fascinating reasoning skills, all of which were heard whenever she argued with Perkins on the topical issues of the day.

George Crimarco, in a remembrance written for his mother’s life, described her as a “caring mom who always encouraged and pushed all her three children to the highest possible heights.”

Tortello is survived by her three children – sons George and Philip Crimarco, and daughter Rebecca Tortello Greenland, her sister Jean Anderson, brother Edward Seaga, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.