In her first media conference in January, 2010 Mrs Evans joked that she had "absolute faith that I'll never get cancer" again and would die of a heart attack.

She died, aged 73, on December 18, six months after she was diagnosed with the lung cancer her doctors said was unrelated to the lung and brain cancer she recovered from in 1993.

Her funeral at Kincumber's Holy Spirit Catholic Church – in the suburb where she lived her final two years and where St Mary MacKillop established an orphanage in 1887 – heard of the woman praised by a nun as "this wonderful woman, this great human being".

"She wasn't filled with pomp. She became the great friend of Mary MacKillop," said Sisters of St Joseph nun Maria Casey, who spent nine years championing MacKillop's case for canonisation within the Catholic Church, including collecting medical evidence to support claims Mrs Evans' first cancer recovery was miraculous.

In a moving eulogy Mrs Evans' five children spoke of the Windale mother who could stretch one kilogram of mince to feed a family during tough times.

"Mum had heaps of recipes and ideas of how to cook mince. One was her chow mein mince with cabbage and chicken noodle soup, and peas if we had been misbehaving. We all thought we were eating Chinese food," her daughter Lisa told mourners.

Mrs Evans' compassion extended to the doctor who detailed the difficulties she faced after she was diagnosed with lung cancer in June.

"She felt sorry for the doctor having to tell her that news. She said she had been given 23 bonus years and was so appreciative of this time to see grandchildren and great grandchildren and experience the rest of her life," her daughter told mourners.

"She didn't take those 23 years for granted."

Kathleen Evans was given only weeks to live in 1993 after a lung and brain cancer diagnosis following years as a smoker. She had no medical treatment and returned home where "all I had left was prayer".

A friend from the Hunter gave her a picture of Mary MacKillop with a relic, or piece of the nun's clothing, attached to the back. Mrs Evans wore it on her nightie.

"It never left me," she said in January, 2010 after the Vatican confirmed the nun who established Australia's first order would be recognised as Australia's first saint, and the Hunter woman's role in that process was revealed.

Mrs Evans recalled a sense of peace and happiness in 1993 as prayers were said over her, "and I'm not a person to be happy when I'm sick".

She began to feel better and attended a weekend retreat at the Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar, where a priest prayed over her to Mary MacKillop.

It was 10 months after she was told she would die that tests revealed her cancer had gone and only scarring remained.

"My response was 'Oh wow. That was wow'," she told a media conference in 2010.

In October, 2010 Mrs Evans was at the Vatican for the canonisation of Mary MacKillop, where she carried a cross made from Australian timber during the ceremony. The timber was collected from Penola, South Australia, where MacKillop established the order.

"I can hardly believe that I'm right in the middle of this wonderful event," she said in a statement released by the Sisters of St Joseph at North Sydney and Lochinvar.

"My husband Barry and I have since left our comfort zone far behind. I'm a mother-of-five from Lake Macquarie. I never thought I'd have anything of interest to tell a newspaper."

At her funeral Maitland-Newcastle priest and long-time family friend Brian Mascord spoke about Mrs Evans' work with young people in the parish of Windale over years.

"Kath was always willing to walk with the kids who were a little on the outer. What did Kath do? She loved them," Father Mascord said.

Maitland-Newcastle priests spent time in October with Mrs Evans and husband Barry at the former Kincumber orphanage site, now used as a Catholic Church retreat centre.

"This was a powerful moment when we were part of the encounter with Christ that Kath was having," Father Mascord said.

Mrs Evans' daughter Lisa spoke of her mother's work with other cancer patients through Make Today Count, and of her mother's final few months.

"Mum's last few months were hard for her, and something that we are proud of is being able to have her at home. We take comfort in knowing she can rest in the comfort of her God without pain, discomfort and frustration at her illness," she said.

"Mum taught us many things as young kids that hold us in good stead today – good manners, respect and sound moral values. Mum has always been our support, strength and comfort when times have been tough for us. I don't know how we will cope without her. But we will draw strength from the things she taught us."

Her son Peter recalled the mother who "knew what she liked and didn't suffer fools", and who "wanted us to stand up for ourselves, which sometimes meant standing up to her".

She is survived by husband Barry, children Julie, Annette, Peter, Lisa and Luke, 19 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren – the fifth born the day after she died.

Newcastle Herald