In a heartfelt tribute, former first lady Melania Trump honored her late mother, Amalija Knavs, at her funeral service held on Thursday morning.
The service took place at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida. Melania remembered her mother as a woman of elegance and grace, who had a boundless love for her family and a nurturing spirit that will leave a lasting legacy.
"My mother, the epitome of elegance and grace, exemplified the essence of a true woman. Her love for her husband, Viktor, my father, Ines, my sister and me was boundless. Her nurturing spirit had no limits, creating a legacy that will last for generations," Melania expressed. She also spoke of her mother's affection for her grandson, Barron, and how she illuminated his world with love, tender care, and unwavering devotion.
Melania further highlighted her mother's journey from Slovenia to the United States, her pride in becoming a US citizen, and her commitment to making a difference in the world. "With each step she took, she embraced the privilege bestowed upon her and, in time, the privilege of becoming a US citizen. She vowed to contribute to make a difference in the world," Melania said.
Amalija Knavs passed away on January 9 at the age of 78 in Miami, following an undisclosed illness. Melania spoke of her mother's pride when her husband, Donald Trump, became the President of the United States, and when she herself took on the role of the first lady. "Filled with uncertainty, she knew an exquisite sense of pride as my husband became the President of the United States and as I embarked on a grand odyssey, traveling the corners of the globe as the first lady," Melania said.
The former first lady also shared fond memories of her mother, recalling how she taught her to cook and inspired her interest in fashion. Melania described her mother as a "creator of dreams," who balanced the demands of motherhood with grace and poise, and pursued her own ambition in fashion with resilience and determination.
Fox News was granted exclusive access to the funeral, where Melania was the sole eulogist. Former President Trump also acknowledged the passing of his mother-in-law during a speech on Monday night after sweeping the Iowa caucuses.
"I think most importantly, I want to thank my incredible wife, first lady, I'll say former and maybe future, but more important than Melania, I want to thank her incredible, beautiful mother who passed away a few days ago. And she's up there, way up there. She's looking down, and she's so proud of us," Trump said.
Donald and Melania Trump were married at the same Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in 2005. During the Trump presidency, Amalija Knavs lived in New York along with Melania's father, Viktor Knavs, and occasionally appeared at the White House. She was present at a 2018 ceremony where the first lady debuted her "Be Best" public awareness campaign to help children.
Amalija Knavs and her husband raised Melania and her older sister, Ines, in the rural industrial town of Sevnica while Slovenia was under Communist rule as part of Yugoslavia. Melania, originally named Melanija, attended high school in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, and changed her name to Melania Knauss when she started modeling. She settled in New York in 1996 and met Trump in 1998. She sponsored her parents immigration to the United States, and they became citizens at a New York City courthouse in 2018, while Trump was President.
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