for the first time since her husband's death on Tuesday.

"I'm doing the best I can on a day-to-day basis under the circumstances,'' she told The Royal Gazette .

When asked how her children, the five-year-old triplets Ceola, Kemela and Frederick Jr., were, she said: "Sometimes they claim to understand but at other times they don't.

"Sometimes they say they think that God will fix him or they ask when's daddy coming back from his trip.'' Mr. Wade, 57, died on Tuesday night after collapsing outside his home. It is understood Mr. Wade suffered a heart attack and was dead on arrival at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Mrs. Wade said: "I realise that my husband made a significant sacrifice -- personally, professionally, financially and health-wise -- to the political betterment of Bermuda.

"At times I admired and respected that but at times I also questioned it -- a sacrifice so great -- was it appreciated by people in Bermuda? "Now I can see that it was through the outpouring of support and encouragement which makes me feel that people really did appreciate what he did and that it was not in vain.'' Mrs. Wade was speaking after former PLP leader Lois Browne Evans announced a trust fund for the education of the triplets had been set up at the Bank of Bermuda.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott said: "It's my information that it has already been supported by people from all walks of life.

"Some members of the governing party have contributed and one of the banks will probably make a donation.'' Mr. Scott said Mr. Wade was not as well-off as he could have been if he had devoted less time to the public affairs and more to his personal comfort.

He added: "I am glad to see Mr. Wade's contribution to the community has been appreciated and the community is responding in kind. But all that I have heard speaks well of the people of Bermuda. They have been most responsive and considerate of Mr. Wade's memory and we are deeply, deeply appreciative.'' Mrs. Wade said she was now preparing for the next hurdle -- Mr. Wade's funeral on Monday at 4.30 p.m. at the Anglican Cathedral.

Amongst those due to attend are Governor Lord and Lady Waddington, Mayor of Hamilton William Boyle, Premier David Saul, Acting Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith and Sir James and Lady Astwood.

Due to fly in from the Bahamas for the service are former deputy Prime Minister Sir Clement Maynard and Progressive Liberal Party secretary Kelsey Johnson.

Mrs. Wade said: "This has certainly made me realise people's appreciation of him because of the great lengths they have gone to to ensure he has a good send off.

"I think my husband would be very impressed -- and probably a little embarrassed as well.'' Mr. Wade was on his way to the Airport where he was due to travel with Mr.

Scott to a Parliamentary Commonwealth conference in Malaysia when he died.

Mr. Scott cut his trip short to return to the Island and gave his account of the fateful events of Tuesday night.

"We received word ten minutes before the flight was due to take off that Mr.

and Mrs. Wade would not be travelling with us and we thought it was just a change of plans -- nothing else.

He said he arrived in London to find a urgent telegram from Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen asking him to call Bermuda before leaving Gatwick Airport which was when he began to fear the worst.

"Fred was not just a colleague, not just a personality -- he was a very close friend,'' Mr. Scott said.

Mr. Scott explained that he had known Mr. Wade since they were at Berkeley Institute together and added they had spent the last 25 years together in the political world.

Wade gave his heart for his Country "He was a very courageous man who had a very big heart and he gave up that heart to family, party and country. He gave and gave until he could give no more and it gave out. I believe we are all richer, not just the PLP or his family, we are all richer after Fred Wade passed this way. We all benefited from that.'' Mr. Scott said he was very proud of all Bermuda after hearing the comments and tributes made to Mr. Wade since returning to the Island.

"Bermuda has, in this very dark, tragic moment of its political history, shown its appreciation to the sacrifice and depth of unselfish contribution he made to the lives of Bermudians. It shows that Fred did not live in vain.'' Hours before the official funeral, MPs and Senators will attend a joint session in the House at 10.30 a.m. to pay tribute to the late leader of the PLP.

Speaker of the House Ernest DeCouto said Acting Premier Jerome Dill, Ms Smith and Senate President Albert Jackson had agreed to hold the joint session to pay special tribute to and express sympathy at Mr. Wade's passing with highlights and achievements of his career.

PLP MP the Rev. Trevor Woolridge said Mr. Wade's body would be on view on Sunday from 7.30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Alaska Hall and at Cathedral Hall on Monday from noon until 4.15 p.m.

Cabinet Secretary Leo Mills said yesterday that Government offices will close at 4 p.m. on Monday as a mark of respect for Mr. Wade and all flags on Government buildings would continue to be flown at half mast.