Julia Margaret Baker would have so enjoyed her funeral service.

She loved people and it was standing room only at the Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing.

As for floral tributes, there were enough to stock a public park.

At Strode Crescent Baptist Church, Sheerness, for a celebration of her life, all seats were filled and tables groaned under the weight of food at the wake.

Julia would have been wide eyed with wonder, hardly daring to believe it was for her.

All her life she struggled to be “accepted”. Now, never again would she have to plead “do you like me”.

The question had become almost a mantra – she needed reassurance from all she met. And people being people, some were not always kind.

Some laughed at her, not with her, but she bore no malice and hugged and kissed them anyway. Julia died in February following a heart attack at her flat in Davie Court, Sheerness.

She was aged 66, but had a childlike innocence. Until the age of five she had been the big sister to younger brothers, taking command of all weird and wonderful games she devised.

Then, by a cruel trick of fate, she became mentally impaired and there followed long periods in hospital.

After her mother died 10 years ago, she struggled to be independent and was often in the company of sister Delphine Williams at events where she was rehearsing or performing.

But she was proud to travel alone by bus or train to art classes in Sittingbourne.

She had an eye for colour and form - painting and drawing were an outlet for the frustration she felt in striving to be “accepted”.

Sadly her efforts to find work were short-lived. She couldn’t take the demands of a full-time job but was always willing to help in any way she could.

At the service, tributes were paid to a “fine sister” by Delphine and brother Geoffrey Baker.

It was especially poignant that Delphine’s solo Where’er You Walk and the choir’s All In The April Evening were her favourites.

Usually at funerals the congregation is shy and mourners emotional so hymn singing is faltering.

Not so on this occasion. No Julia, they didn’t just like you, they loved you.