Government and Opposition politicians past and present packed the Anglican Cathedral for the funeral of Jacqueline Swan, the late wife of former premier Sir John Swan.

Sir John greeted distinguished guests at the doorway as hundreds turned out in their best to pay respects to Lady Swan, popularly known as Bermuda’s First Lady.

In the front rows along with Sir John and his family were Charles Gosling, the Mayor of Hamilton, Michael Dunkley, and the One Bermuda Alliance Cabinet.

Reflecting Lady Swan’s many philanthropic causes, the representatives of numerous charitable organisations also attended, along with members of the judiciary and former Progressive Labour Party premier Ewart Brown, who has spoken warmly of his friendship with Sir John.

Tributes came from former MP Kim Young, along with Pauline Richards, a personal friend who served with Lady Swan on two charitable organisations, as well as Tom Butterfield of Masterworks.

The obituary was read by retired civil servant Robert Horton, who spoke of Lady Swan’s spirited West End upbringing, and her later interest in the young man at the wheel of a red sports car, John Swan.

Schooled in the UK at Brighton Teacher Training College, she came home in June 1965. The couple married that August, moved to a new home in Paget, and Lady Swan began teaching at Heron Bay Primary that September. Her experience as an educator guided her care for her young daughters, Mr Horton said, noting that she championed them through dyslexia, little understood at the time.

Sir John rose to Premier in 1982. His wife, though essentially private, “assumed the role of First Lady with admirable dignity”, and her philanthropy and love of art flourished. Lady Swan also served as her husband’s “compass through his years in office” — but welcomed his retirement in 1995.

Although cancer was diagnosed in 2014, she spent the last of her 71 years in quality time with family and friends, Mr Horton said — and she will “forever be remembered for the cultural, educational, philanthropic and ancestral legacies that she left to her beloved island home”.

Update: this story has been amended to reflect Pauline Richards speaking in her capacity as a charitable colleague of Lady Swan’s