A Eulogy for Felinda — Mark Dunlop

On behalf of myself and Dad, I would like to thank all family, friends and everyone who has chosen to come honour Mum today – whether it be here in the chapel or whether it be online. I have no doubt that my mum would be both amused and humbled to know that so many have come to honour her.

If we haven’t met before, my name is Mark Dunlop and I am the son of Frank and Felinda and today I will present her eulogy.

Felinda Doctama was born on the 1st August 1957 in the town of Daraga, in the province of Albay, in the archipelago of the Philippines. Daughter of Nicasio & Nenita Doctama, Mum was the second-born amongst her 8 siblings: Miriam, Connie, Miguel, Joseph, Ricardo, Juanito and Marina. Growing up in the shadow of Mt Mayon, the active volcano serenely grumbling nearby, Felinda would learn how to cook, play with her siblings and eventually begin to take leading roles amongst her family.

Felinda was always an eager student and performed well at school. It is reported that she was a kind and well behaved child. As she grew older, she always kept an eye out for her younger brothers and sisters. Tragically, her mother Nenita fell ill, and she trusted Felinda to take care of her until Nenita passed away. Her youngest sister, Marina, was only 12 at the time, and has said that from that point onward, Felinda would be a mother figure for her.

After finishing school, Felinda moved to the capital of the Philippines, Manila, to study a degree in accounting at the National College of Business and Arts whilst working as a receptionist at a nunnery.

As what is fairly common in the Philippines, Felinda became an OFW: an overseas Filipino worker. In her early 30s, she moved to Singapore and became a nanny for two different families. It was in Singapore where a casual decision changed her life forever. A Filipino friend of hers passed her a flyer for the “Australian-Filipino Introduction Agency”, which for those of you who don’t know, was essentially the precursor for internet dating. She says she joined it just for a bit of a joke, but little did she know that this is how she was set up to meet the love of her life.

After writing letters to different male interests, she received a letter from one Francis Wallace Dunlop – commonly known as Frank. She was drawn by his sincerity, warmth, enthusiasm and deep love for the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as his handsome looks. The way I heard it told many a time, is that early on in their letters, Mum signed off with “I give you a little bit of my heart and my love.” A few months later, she finally wrote “You have all of my heart and my love.” After many letters and cassette tapes with vocal recordings criss-crossing their way across the seas, 4 months in, Frank purchased an airplane ticket and visited Felinda in Singapore. It was a blissful week in which their love continued to blossom in the warmth of the summer air in oriental gardens and hustle and bustle of the cosmopolitan city. At the end of the week, Frank purchased an engagement ring and proposed to Felinda, and in her boldest move yet, she said yes as Dad placed the ring on her finger.

5-6 months later, Felinda touched down in Brisbane Airport. Dad recounts the arrival this way with her saying: “I only have what is in my suitcase and the clothes on my back, but I give you everything I have.” On June 30 1990, Frank and Felinda were wed at the Yandina Baptist Church with Frank’s son Peter as his groomsman and his daughter Michele as her bridesmaid.

Frank’s son, Daniel, says “I remember what Dad was like living as a bachelor – he really needed help around the home”. And Mum quickly turned 13 Buckle St Yandina into a domestic haven.

Frank and Felinda were eager to start a family, and fairly soon, a baby was due in 1991. This was the first major trial as a married couple. Due to Felinda’s high blood pressure in her final trimester, a medical emergency soon ensued and heartbreakingly on 14th February 1991, Dean Christopher Dunlop was birthed a stillborn at Nambour General Hospital.

It was not too long until once again Felinda was expecting with another son. Unfortunately, once again, her surging high blood pressure at the beginning of her third trimester put the birth in incredible risk of the same previous tragedy. A quick thinking doctor who refused to let history repeat itself quickly ordered Felinda to be transported to Brisbane via ambulance. Two years later on their wedding anniversary, Mark Edward Dunlop was born via emergency caesarean section at the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital on June 30 1992. I was delivered 6 weeks early and from what I’m told, I could fit in the palm of Dad’s hand.

Growing up, I don’t remember Mum and Dad fighting at all. Mum was attentive to myself and Dad and she created an environment of love, care and faith. She was a wonderful mother to me: always being there for every memorable occasion and an ever-present presence. I always knew I’d find her in the kitchen. Dad says that their close to 32 years of marriage was the perfect marriage. They were truly the best of friends and were at each other’s side through every endeavour. She was delighted to meet my fiancée, Emmerson, and with her blessing and consent, Mum’s engagement ring now sits on Emmerson’s finger.

Inheriting this trait from her Dad, Nicasio, Felinda had a strong work ethic. Over the years, Mum was to try her hand many different kind of job opportunities: helping Dad run his secondhand store, doing the accounting work for his taxi work, volunteering at Suncoast Christian College and Nambour State School, bookkeeping, disability support worker, payroll clerk and working on the floor at the APN newspaper factory, and finally, doing data entry for Keyline Realty.

However I have a clear memory of this: once on a government form, she was asked what her employment role was. She happily and confidently wrote “Housewife”. And I think that was the best answer, because Mum was happiest most when she was at home in the kitchen cooking or weeding the garden. She loved to cook and many, many meals were had at Buckle St, whether it be Frank’s son David visiting with his young family from Dalby, other family members, friends such as Goona Nair-Rust, Wowein Scott or Bart and Edel, or other people they would show kindness to, few things made Mum happier than when others ate her food.

If you know myself or Dad, you would know that we are very social beings. If you knew my Mum, you would know that she was not. Her preference 9 times out of 10 would to be at home. However, for someone who was reluctant to be social, Mum would take time with each person she met, giving them a smile and asking them how they were. If she could figure out a way to give them food, she would – as my future in-laws have experienced many times now. And in this way, she was able to meet and impact the lives of so many people both here in Australia and across the world. Most recently, she cooked over 100 meals of Masaman Curry during a blackout so that over 80 performers could be fed for the most recent Suncoast Church Christmas production rehearsal: it’s safe to say she was a crowd favourite.

She was compassionate and generous, invested in the lives of her family. Whenever there was a serious need back in the Philippines, she would send back money and she visited her homeland many times. When her brother Miguel was to be ordained as a deacon in the Catholic Church in Barcelona, Spain, she did not hesitate to fly there for his ordination. And once, after her long time friend’s husband passed away in US, she flew to San Francisco in California to comfort her.

Not a bad effort for someone who would rather be at home.

You see, Mum was a vibrant lady, full of life and strong willed, creative and quirky, at times, cheeky, full of compassion, grace and strength – all contained within the frame of a shorter gentle, meek Filipino woman. If you do not know, Felinda is actually a coined name: “Fe” meaning faith, and “Linda” meaning beautiful. Her name means “Beautiful Faith”. And from this faith in Christ, everything flowed. From growing up in the Catholic faith and then joining Frank in different church communities here on the Sunshine Coast, Felinda lived out Acts 17:28.

“In Him we live, move and have our being.”

Felinda found her purpose for life in her saviour, Jesus Christ. This faith impacted and emanated through every part of her life, through all her interactions with the people she met and how she treated her family, myself and Dad.

In recent years, her devotion to the Lord only grew stronger and was often found praying, reading scriptures or listening to worship music whilst cooking in the kitchen. I have no doubt that her prayers were powerful, and if you ever heard her pray, you would agree. This Filipino woman was small but mighty, and she would constantly lift her family, friends, workplaces and churches up in prayer.

In recent months, my mum became what can only be described as “otherworldly” at times. As it is with some older saints who are so spiritually inclined, Mum began to ache for Heaven and would begin to say “I can’t wait to get to Heaven” and “I’m sick of this old world.” She already had one foot in Heaven whilst having one in this world.

And on the morning of Friday, 7th January 2022, Felinda crossed over from earth into eternity. Whilst her body lay asleep, she crossed both feet into Heaven into the arms of her beloved Saviour. I have no doubt that right now she is celebrating with Jesus, and has reunited with her father, mother, brother Juanito and her firstborn son, Dean Christopher.

Whilst for us here on earth, this is truly a sad and heartbreaking time, Dad and I are truly anchored to the assurance of Heaven; the assurance of salvation; the assurance of Christ’s ever present promise to never leave or forsake us in the time of sorrow and trouble. We are truly grateful for the love, support, prayers and faith of many in this room, online, from all corners of the Coast and across the world: you help carry us as we learn to live on this Earth without Felinda’s felt presence.

As we lay to rest Mum’s body near the body of her son, Dean Christopher, later today, I echo the words of the late evangelist Billy Graham:

“Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.”

I tell you now: whilst the body of Felinda lay here in this coffin, she is more alive than she has ever been. She is more alive than she has ever been.

And Mum, if God lets you watch your funeral, can you believe that so many people are here because of you? I know you’d find it funny. It’s hard to not have you here Mum, but I know you’re saying “Don’t worry about me – I’m fine!”, with that big cheeky smile of yours. I will miss you forever, I will love you forever, you will live in me forever and my kids and grandkids will know and love your name. And they will know and love your legacy, and of your love for your Saviour.

Thank you. Thank you.

Felinda Doctama Dunlop
Entered Earth 1st August 1957
Entered Eternity 7th January 2022