'Amelia Latuniua Taumoepeau-Tupou was laid to rest at the Mala'e'aloa Cemetery, this morning August 16, following a funeral service at the FWC Centenary Church in Nuku'alofa, attended by HM King George V and the Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata'aho and members of Tonga's royal family.

The sermon was conducted by Rev, Dr 'Ahio the Acting President of the FWC of Tonga, before the royal family joined the funeral procession, led by the Queen Salote College Brass Band.

Latuniua died from kidney complications at Vaiola Hospital on Sunday, August 12, on her 62nd birthday. She was the youngest sister of the Queen Mother and the wife of Hon. Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi Taumopeau-Tupou, Tonga's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence, and the Acting Governor of Vava'u.

She was born on August 12, 1945 at Havakatolo Si'i, a daughter of the late Hon 'Ahome'e of Ha'avakatolo and the late Heuifanga 'Ahome'e. She began her schooling at the Nuku'alofa Primary School and 'Onevai Primary School in Vava'u, before entering Queen Salote College in 1958-61, where she was a gifted sports girl and choir conductor.

Latuniua later attended the Methodist Ladies College in Sydney, Australia, before she returned to become a tutor at Queen Salote College for nine years.

She married and survived by her husband, and four children, Christian David Faha'ivalu, twin girls Marcella Margaret Tupou 'Ahome'e and 'Ainise Kilinalivoni Tupoumoheofo, and Latasi Richard Toutoupau'u Taumoepeau-Tupou and grandchildren.