FWIW, last year my aunt died. For the last few years of her life, she was literally a different person than she had been previously, due to a post-surgical stroke and other physical issues. Her personality changed completely and she required a lot of care from her family.

For the wake, her children put together several collages of photos of her with family and friendsduring the course of her life. They included photos of holidays, vacations, her wedding, pictures showing her as a young mother, etc. Looking at them reminded me of the person she was for most of her life. During a brief service held by a deacon from her church during the second day of the wake, the deacon encouraged us to remember special times with her and share them with the group. The whole experience really brought back the aunt I grew up with, so I can more clearly remember her instead of the person she was during the last few difficult years.

So it might help to try to encourage people to think back and remember this woman from earlier in her life, as a wife, mother, teacher, etc. Perhaps the person who officiates the service could help with that.