MINISTER in the Ministry of Education Lisa Morris-Julian was lovingly remembered at a memorial service at the ministry on December 17 by those people she had worked closest with every day.

About 200 ministry staff, plus several Cabinet ministers and representatives from the wider education sector met for a service under Roman Catholic rites, most seemingly still in a state of shock and disbelief at losing her.

Morris-Julian died tragically the day before in a fire that consumed the family home in Arima.

Two of her children, Xianne, 25, and Jesiah, six, were also killed in the blaze.

Her husband Daniel Julian remains hospitalised with burns.

With Fr Robert Christo officiating, colleagues mourned Morris-Julian by a combination of prayers, hymns, eulogies and musical tributes.

The Prime Minister urged everyone to emulate the life of Morris-Julian, who was also D'Abadie/O'Meara MP.

Earlier, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly similarly said everyone should pray to live a life as meaningful as Morris-Julian's.

Dr Rowley recalled experiencing the deaths in office of former ministers Franklin Khan and Morris Marshall, but of Morris-Julian's sudden demise, he remarked, "I wasn't prepared for this."

"If we ever thought differently, now we have got the proof - tomorrow is promised to no one."

"If we accept that, then it might play a role in fashioning our behaviour in the days that we think we hold."

In empathy, he told mourners that if he said where he "was" right then, they would know he understood where they "were".

"This is a tragedy that none of us could have anticipated or could have influenced in a different direction."

The PM said people belong to many different faiths and just have to hold on to what they believe in regarding their faith.

"Even as I speak to you now I dread the day of the funeral, when I expect that it will all 'hang out' from all of us."

Rowley recalled last seeing Morris-Julian and her husband on Saturday at his Christmas function at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's.

"I was never to know that was the last time I would be seeing the best representative in the Government of TT."

He related his wife Sharon Rowley had asked him on Monday morning if he had heard Morris-Julian and her two children had died.

Later that morning, he had gone back to sleep, he said.

"I slept until 12 o'clock and I woke up, only to discover I was covered in tears. I didn't know when I was crying. I was covered in tears.

He said the loss of Morris-Julian could come close to making one question their faith and to wonder "How could this be?"

Rowley said, "Now we believe in the Almighty and that He knows best."

Saying Morris-Julian's passing brought lessons to all, he said her life showed public service was honourable.

"As the love and appreciation pour out for Lisa Morris-Julian, it says that in doing public service in the selfless way she has done it, public service in honourable."

Her service was valuable for the lives she had touched, the PM asserted.

"She