Melania Trump has delivered an emotional eulogy for her mother, at a funeral service near the Trumps’ Mar-a-Lago estate.

“In her presence, the world seemed to shimmer with radiance and joy. Our bond was unbreakable,” Trump told the crowd gathered at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Florida’s Palm Beach on Thursday (US time).

Amalija Knavs, 78, died on January 9 in Miami after an undisclosed illness.

Her daughter, with husband Donald and son Barron, were among those to attend the funeral, alongside Viktor Knavs, Melania’s father and the late Amalija’s husband.

The service was also attended by the former US president’s children from previous marriages: Tiffany Trump and Ivanka Trump, with her husband, Jared Kushner.

In her eulogy, Melania, 53, called her mother a “ray of light in the darkest days”, and spoke about their effortless conversations.

“Rest in peace my beloved mother,” she said before reportedly touching her fingers to her lips and placing them on Knavs’ casket.

During the Trump presidency, Melania’s parents lived in New York and occasionally appeared at the White House.

People magazine reports the couple had a particularly close relationship with their 17-year-old grandson, Barron.

“[Amalija] has an excellent relationship with Melania and with Barron,” a source close to the family said.

“They love her. She is unselfish and takes care of the family. Melania has always been super good with her mom as well as Barron.”

Barron was said to be particularly close to his grandmother.

“There have been times when Barron has been with his grandparents more than with Melania, and a lot more than with Donald,” the source said.

Tweet from @MELANIATRUMP

Melania announced her mother’s death in a statement on X earlier in January.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija,” she wrote.

“Amalija Knavs was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity. She was entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law. We will miss her beyond measure and continue to honour and love her legacy.”

The Knavses raised Melania, born Melanija, and her older sister, Ines, in the rural industrial town of Sevnica while Slovenia was under Communist rule as part of Yugoslavia.

Amalija Knavs was a textile worker and homemaker, while her husband worked as a chauffeur before becoming a car dealer.

The former first lady, 53, attended high school in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, and changed her name to Melania Knauss when she started modelling.

She settled in New York in 1996 and met Trump in 1998.

She sponsored her parents’ immigration to the US, and they became citizens at a New York City courthouse in 2018, while Trump was president.

Their lawyer said at the time that they applied for citizenship on their own and did not receive any special treatment.

-with AAP