Eulogy for HRH King Marmalade Angel Francisco Dominic Raphael Patrick Miguel Cristiano
10th September 2008  -  3rd September 2020
Marmalade was truly a King among cats.  His gentle green wise eyes bore so much, and his beautiful gentle presence gave me  so much comfort, solace, strength, peace, tranquility and unconditional love.
His unconditional love, reflected the unconditional agape love of his creator God, like a mirror and his devotion, was my solid rock, my bridge over troubled water, that carried and supported me through the happiest and darkest days of my life.
The love Marmalade gave was in its purest form.  It was non judgemental, accepting and tolerant.  He loved you just the way you are, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, in sickness and in health.
He was devoted to me, as I was to him, providing him with love, security and trust.  We healed each other in the years we were together.
He laid down his life for me, as at times I kept him indoors from 2014.  I protected him from harm, and used to tell him not to go far, or visit "the elephant graveyard" (the Lion King).
Animals are far better and superior than some humans.  Marmalade was a wise Zen master.  Some humans are flawed sinners, they are fallen with layer upon layer of issues.  Some don't even know how to love or love themselves.  Their love is conditional, pre judgemental, hurtful and let you down. 
Angel animals don't care if you are male or female, rich or poor, black or white, sick or healthy, gay or straight, they love you just the way you are.
Marmalade stood by me through thick and thin.   He was the most exquisitely beautiful divinely handsome cat you ever saw, or imagined.  He had ginger autumnal fiery russet fur, offset with cool cool white fur.  He was truly magnificent.  I used to tell him, "what a beautiful cat God created!"
Sadly humans let him down, and failed him.  He suffered the abuse of neglect as a kitten, as I discovered, through another cat owner who owned "Lucky Bella", that his previous owners bred cats, and was expecting a baby.  She locked him out of the house, moved to Stoke on Trent and left him to fend for himself.
Marmalade had anger, mistrust, sadness and heartbreak, as he had no one to love, care for him or offer him security.  He became semi feral with no one he could depend on.  He was not even 1 years old.
As fate would have it, Marmalade came to me in 2009.  He had just turned one.  He watched me playing with another stray, Jessica, and gradually the walls of mistrust were broken, and he opened his heart to love.
As he was semi feral, Marmalade did not know how to use a litter tray. I taught him at the age of 2, as he preferred being in the great outdoors, day and night.  He did not know how to drink from a water bowl, (I bought him a water fountain).  He used to come to the house for scraps and food.  Eventually, I decided to adopt him, after Jessica crossed Rainbow Bridge in 2011.
After Jessica's death, Pet Log told me Marmalade's birthday was on 10th September 2008, and that his real name was ANGEL.
I named him Lady Marmalade, after the song by LaBelle, and he used to give me funny looks.  I found out that he was male, and dropped the "Lady", he was my first boy cat.
Marmalade blossomed into the most beautiful, confident cat.  He became King of His Castle.  He found somewhere he belonged, somewhere he could call home.  He taught me how to live and gave me a purpose.
He loved eating prawns, crab claws, rabbit flavour Felix, chicken and fish, Felix, and 11 pieces of Whiskas Temptations without fail every morning.  He sat by his bowl and waited for it.   Initially he was so hungry as he was a stray, if anyone overindulgenced, we called it, "doing a Marmalade.". After eating he would go to sleep, just like after a Christmas meal!
He learnt to trust me, as he suffered a lot of trauma, through the neglect of abuse.  Sadly, at times, he would not allow me to touch or stroke him, or even brush his fur, he would bite the brush!
Marmalade and I rescued each other.  I showed him unconditional love, and taught him to trust and just be a cat, with the comfort and security that we were inseparable.
Marmalade in turn saw me through the happiest and saddest times of my life, such as the loss of Jessica, who was a stray I rescued, (pet bereavement), caring for my bed bound and housebound late Mother, (then bereavement) caring for my sister, (and saving her from a lower limb amputation) and coping with decades of Narcissistic abuse and domestic violence, and eventually leading me to my freedom, a place of love, serenity and peace.
I will never forget how Marmalade bravely accompanied me to a refuge, and to a temporary safe place in 2017.
On 5th November 2019, Marmalade found his furever home, as I retrieved him from my former home, with a police escort.  He had everything to live for, and blossomed into the most beautiful, confident cat.  He was relaxed, free and more vocal and had a healthy appetite. 
He transformed into the most peaceful and wise Zen master.. Marmalade reminds us to trust God, who will never leave or forsake us, (Joshua 1:5) and to cast all our cares on Him, (1 Peter 5:7) and loves us with a pure unconditional love. (1 John 4:16)
The love that we had for each other ebbed and flowed like the tides, to each other, and in turn healed both our wounds of abuse and trauma, let down by humans with infallibilities, and issues upon issues.  We both healed and thrived.
I am happy I took him to Eucharistic Adoration at Holy Cross Priory Church, and every year I took him to St Andrew's Church in October for the blessing of animals at Francistide.
Marmalade taught us how to love, enjoy life and live in the moment.  To enjoy God's creation Mother Nature at its finest.  He also taught us how to be cheerful in the midst of suffering and bear our crosses with stocism.
He taught us about death and letting go, and that a good steward of a living creature is being compassionate, selfless merciful and putting their life and needs before ours.
He was a fighter, and enjoyed every single moment of his life, and in his final moment, I made the decision to give him the most selfless act of love, mercy and compassion, as he was ready for his new journey and adventure.. He taught me to accept and let go.
The ending was peaceful, and release for us both, as I intensively cared for him in his final days.
Love is the most powerful energy.  It never dies, not even death can separate us.  Marmalade's mission in life was to love and comfort me, protect me and lead me into a place of freedom, love and peace, and his mission in life was accomplished.
The actor, Patrick Swayze says, "love is the one thing you can take with you when you die.", and in the movie, "Ghost", he says, "The love inside you, you take it with you."
St Francis of Assisi says, "Remember that when you leave this earth you can take with you nothing that you have received - only what you have given."
There was a huge outpouring of grief on 3rd September 2020, as you touched so many hearts, lives and souls internationally around the world.
Marmalade I will always love you.. You had everything to live for, and I did everything I could for you.  I wish you could have enjoyed at least a few more years of bliss, peace, joy, happiness and love with you.  I will always remember the last 11 months, especially those sunny days in the garden.
You taught me so much with your beauty, strength, grace, poise and wisdom.  You are sorely missed.  God bless you beautiful Marmalade, true love never dies  (Romans 8: 38 - 39)
© Hazel Maria Rose Fernandes