Loving mother Denise Potter remembered

Denise Potter's family members release balloons after a service to celebrate her life. Photo / Lynda van Kempen

Denise Potter's disappearance more than two months ago left her family and her community reeling in disbelief.

Missing without trace, the Alexandra woman's presence nevertheless filled the St John the Baptist Catholic Church on Saturday at a remembrance service in her honour.

Heartfelt words uttered by her husband and daughters were mixed with anecdotes by family and friends to celebrate her life as about 600 mourners shared smiles and tears.

A photo of Mrs Potter, flanked by vibrant flowers, sat on the altar. Orange - one of her favourite colours and believed by some to have ''healing'' properties - was in evidence everywhere, from the ribbons adorning the pews, through to the clothing of those who attended and the balloons released at the end.

Father Pat McGettigan summed up the feelings of the crowd when he opened the service.

''The Alexandra community is shocked and mystified by the disappearance of Denise and we've been left with more questions than answers.

''Whatever happened to Denise, we want the family to know she was much loved and respected and will not be forgotten.''

Mrs Potter, 53, went missing on March 30, while staying at her elder daughter Koren's Dunedin home.

Searches involving police and hundreds of volunteers failed to find any trace, she has not used her cellphone or bank cards and there have been no leads since on her whereabouts.

Husband Steve said the service was a chance to reflect on her life ''and to be grateful for the time we had with her''.

''Denise and I used to not watch the news on TV sometimes because we were horrified at how mankind treated each other, but all this has shown me another side of mankind - now I know how caring people can be and our family has experienced that first hand, from friends and strangers.''

They had been a couple for 34 years and he had a final message for his wife: ''I miss you and love you and you will never be forgotten. I know, in my heart, you are finally at peace,'' he said. His tribute drew a round of applause from the mourners.

Other speakers highlighted Mrs Potter's devotion to her family, her enjoyment of a good laugh, her hospitality, her dressmaking skills and her rapport with patients in her role as receptionist at Cornerstone Health for 25 years.

Daughters Koren and Sharelle reported being overwhelmed by the support they had been shown and all the lives their mother had touched.

Koren read a letter she wrote to her mother saying she missed her daily texts, ''telling me about the Alexandra weather and telling me to have a good day''.

Grateful to be part of such a close knit family, she thanked her mother for her love and support and for instilling ''all the right values and morals'' in her children.

Fr McGettigan concluded the service with Brian Turner's poem What the wind knows.