Bass Coast community mourn loss of beloved mother and dairy nutritionist Shiona Berry

A Wonthaggi mum and cow nutritionist has been remembered as a selfless, loyal and fierce woman who never gave up.

The Bass Coast community is mourning the loss of the beloved, hardworking dairy nutritionist Shiona Berry. Picture: Supplied

A Wonthaggi mum and cow nutritionist has been remembered as a selfless, loyal and fierce woman who never gave up.

Shiona Berry, 48, passed away in hospital on January 7 after fighting a highly aggressive stage four glioblastoma brain tumour for more than a year.

Ms Berry worked as a dairy cow nutritionist across Gippsland, including for Gippsland Dairy.

A moving funeral service was held for Ms Berry at Handley and Anderson Funeral Homes in Wonthaggi on Friday.

Celebrant Bryan Sharp described Ms Berry as a selfless, loyal and fierce person who never gave up.

Ms Berry, who was upset that young children were diagnosed with brain tumours, organised a fundraiser for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and raised more than $20k for the cause, where she did 100 squats a day in April last year.

Ms Berry organised a fundraiser for brain cancer and raised $25,000. Picture: Supplied

The Mount Waverley-born mum was the much loved daughter of Doug and Gwen.

Husband Caleb said, in his eulogy, it didn’t take long for him to realise Shiona was the one for him.

“What I discovered over the next 25 years was how special she was,” Mr Berry said.

Mr Berry said Shiona had the best time working in Warragul and consulting dairy farmers across Gippsland.

“She dealt with farmers and work colleagues she thought she wouldn’t belong with,” he said.

He said the popular mum drove to dairy farmers all over the region and always looked for new challenges.

Ms Berry has three daughters, Ella, Freya and Olivia with her husband Caleb. Picture: Supplied

“She was damn proud of what she did,” Mr Berry said.

“We had a lot of fun working together.”

Mr Berry also said Shiona’s greatest fear was letting her three daughters down, but she never did.

“I was a little shattered when she was first diagnosed,” he said.

Mr Berry was pleased the community hugged them tight through Shiona’s journey, and thanked Bass Coast Health for all their efforts.

Crowds of people gathered outside the Handley and Anderson Funeral Homes to remember Shiona Berry.

Daughters Ella, Freya and Olivia, in their eulogies, said the loss of their mother left a gaping hole in their lives, who always brightened up their sad days.

“She always made herself available when we needed her,” the girls said.

“She was always there to jump up and defend us.”

They described how talented their mother was, who made “insanely difficult” cakes from Women’s Weekly magazine.

“In our eyes, there was nothing our mum couldn't do,” they said.

Father Doug said Shiona was full of fun, mischief and laughter.

“She always got on with the job,” he said.

He said how grateful he was to have a joyful soul in their lives,

“Today is a day that we will remember,” he added.