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An unexpected letter arrived at my dad’s funeral – it contained one of life’s great lessons

Melissa Coburn Contributor October 30, 2025 — 6.30pm Advertisement

On the morning of my father’s funeral, a handwritten letter was delivered to the church and passed to me. It was from a former school teacher who taught English and history to my sisters and me, decades ago. The letter expressed sympathy for my family’s loss and recalled my father affectionately as the intelligent, witty and articulate man that he was. The teacher told us that she had enjoyed her interactions with my parents during parent-teacher interviews.

Hands up who’s loving learning … a World Teachers’ Day tribute. Credit: iStock

I remember that we looked forward to hearing my fathe

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