Bermuda came to a standstill yesterday as champion for justice Dame Lois Browne Evans was laid to rest. More than 1,000 people packed into the Cathedral — and many thousands more lined the streets for a procession — to pay their final respects to the trailblazing political leader and legendary lawyer. At the funeral, members of Dame Lois' family joined Premier Ewart Brown and other politicians to make speeches praising countless achievements in her remarkable life.Throughout an emotional service, mourners cried, sang, smiled and — as numerous tributes to the Dame were read out — laughed, clapped and cheered.

As people crammed into pews, with hundreds standing in the aisles,hundreds more stood outside listening to the service through the Cathedral's open doors.

The funeral had been scheduled to last two hours, but ended up stretching to nearly three as so many people had so many things to say about the woman they described as the mother of the nation.

A procession, led by the Bermuda Regiment Band and Corps of Drums, began at noon at Alaska Hall and made its way through huge crowds en route to the Cathedral. Following the funeral, the march continued to St. John's Church in Pembroke, where the burial took place.

Among a seemingly endless stream of achievements in her life, Progressive Labour Party politician Dame Lois was Bermuda's first female barrister, first female Attorney General, first black woman to be elected an MP and first woman Opposition Leader in the Commonwealth.

The Dame — who would have celebrated her 80th birthday on Friday — died in the early hours of Tuesday last week from a suspected stroke.

Dr. Brown set the tone for the rest of the funeral service by announcing his own speech was going to over-run — and encouraging others to do the same in honour of Dame Lois.

"Customarily, I would speak within the time set for me, but today I'm going to uphold a tradition established by you-know-who. Protocol has been established," said the Premier.

He continued: "My heart filled with sadness on hearing that Dame Lois had left us. Hers is a void that will not be easily filled."

Dr. Brown praised the way the community has rallied to mourn Dame Lois and celebrate her life.

"Each fitting tribute has made me proud, very proud," he said.

The Premier raised some laughs by recalling a time when, as a youngster, he had encountered the Dame while he was carrying out some cleaning work for his father.

"I was carrying a mop, a bucket and a bad attitude," he said. "I was grumbling about how other children don't have to clean up after adults.

"Dame Lois said: 'Go ahead and do your work.' I always listened. Thank you Dame Lois for your wisdom."

He described her as a trailblazer who "pioneered a path in local politics" and provided an example which should be copied for years to come.

Deputy Opposition Leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said she was proud to walk in Dame Lois' footprints as a woman politician. Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin described the Dame as a "phenomenal woman" with qualities including confidence, integrity, honesty and fairness. She said: "Dame Lois saw it as her mission to lift up women in politics. She encouraged us and ensured our demeanour was appropriate."

One of Dame Lois' most celebrated former protegees Dame Jennifer Smith, the former Premier, made an emotional tribute.

"Because of Dame Lois, Bermuda is a just society today, although we still have a long way to go to achieve her goal," said Dame Jennifer.

"Dame Lois was a teacher and she never stopped teaching. Dame Lois saw something in me that I could not see or produce for myself. Her mission was to take a piece of coal and shape it into a diamond."

Dame Jennifer said she would constantly tell people to follow Dame Lois' advice, even if they did not agree with it.

"There are countless times when I pause to think what would Dame Lois do," she said.

Another protege and former Premier, Alex Scott, said Dame Lois had never sought the limelight or wealth."Instead of 15 minutes of fame, she achieved a lifetime of success," said Mr. Scott.

Dame Lois' family member Tony Lawrence read out a long list of condolences before paying a tribute of his own. "Dame Lois to us was an auntie. To me, she was a giant," said Mr. Lawrence.

"She always had a place in her heart for her children, and for her nephews and nieces, and for every common person. She treated everybody the same."

Nephew Paul Richards then read a tribute written by Dame Lois' son Donald, which referred to her unselfishness, faith and humility.

"Back of town was always ahead of Front Street in Lois's thoughts," said the statement.

Describing Dame Lois as "Bermudian to the core", the message continued: "She was so Bermudian that she would spot Bermudians anywhere — in London, New York, at the airport, or even in a supermarket, it didn't matter. If you were Bermudian anywhere, she would find you."

Offering an insight into Dame Lois character many people may not have seen, the son described her as a "news hawk" and resourceful character and added: "She loved peanut butter and banana sandwiches and vanilla ice cream."

Mr. Richards added a tribute of his own, saying how she devoted time to looking after elderly relatives, including her father who was sick late in life.

"She loved her family," he said. "How many other people of her stature would have done something like that? I can see many of that stature saying: 'We will find them a nice comfortable rest home.' Not our Lois. It was her responsibility and she took it."

Mr. Richards called for a movie to be made of Dame Lois' life to inspire people to follow her lead.

He revealed that Dame Lois had been preparing invitations for her 80th birthday party hours before she passed away.

"She was always such a giving person, I want to say, Dame Lois, we will give you those three days. Happy 80th birthday," he said.

Mr. Richards then read a note from Dame Lois' daughter Nadine: "I love you mama, thank you for a life time of unconditional love." The song You Raise Me Up was played at the request of Nadine.

Speaking on behalf of the legal community, lawyer Shirley Simmons called for a number of permanent tributes to be made to the Dame. Her suggestions included a No Crime Week and, to raucous applause from the congregation, lawyers providing their services for free in honour of Dame Lois. The ceremony featured musical performances from legendary jazz musician Wendell (Shine) Hayward, who took his saxophone outside to play for the crowds; gospel group The Apex Four, who started out when Dame Lois was 43 years old; and singers Toni Robinson and Nichole Francis.

An obituary of Dame Lois' life was also read by her niece Joanne Browne-Jennings.