RECALLING A PRINCESS; MOURNERS FLOCK TO MORTUARY IN SIMI TO PEN CONDOLENCES : WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.

Byline: Gloria Gonzales Daily News Staff Writer

On the other side of the world from London, dozens of Ventura County residents lined up Wednesday at Reardon Mortuary Chapel to share their anguish and pen a final message to Diana, the Princess of Wales.

``I can't explain what exactly compelled me to come here today . . . I just had to come,'' said Jerri Stephenson, a Camarillo retiree who drove to Simi Valley to sign a condolence book for the princess, whose fairytale life ended last weekend in a violent car crash in Paris.

``Her goodness just beamed out of her, and I think all this outpouring will ensure that her good works live on, and that her sons will have some sense of her influence,'' Stephenson said.

Throughout the day, small groups of mourners came to the simple chapel to write messages in a cloth-bound, loose-leaf book. It will be sent Friday to the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., then on to Kensington Palace, Diana's home in London.

It was a more intimate scene than at Buckingham Palace or the British Embassy in West Los Angeles, where mourners waited for hours to sign hardbound condolence books.

But the mourners' emotions seem to be as strong throughout the world. By 1 p.m., nearly every line of the 25-page book in Simi Valley had been filled by about 50 people paying their respects. An hour later, mortuary employees added 50 more pages to the loose-leaf book.

``She turned her life around in spite of difficult circumstances, and she had compassion and caring for regular people,'' said Betsey Hospoder, dabbing at her eyes as she left the chapel. ``It seemed like things were just getting better for her, she was finally doing what she wanted to do. I wrote to her that we'll never forget her and she'll always be beautiful.''

Dozens of mothers with young children came to sign the book, reflecting Diana's impact on a generation of women who came of age with the image of the princess's fairytale wedding embedded in their memories.

``She was a young mother like me, she got married a year before I did and had kids just a few years before I started my family,'' said Jean Hodges, a 39-year-old mother of three sons ages 8 to 13. ``I admire her because she went through the divorce and all of that, and was still strong enough to go on and work to help others.

Hodges added that she signed the book more to console herself than to comfort Diana's relatives or those of Prince Charles.

``Thousands of people are signing books all over the world - (Diana's) boys will never have time to read all this,'' she said. ``All this writing is for our own healing, we do it to console our own hearts.''

A call to the Reardon Mortuary prompted the starting of a condolence book there, said manager Eric Ortega.

``Someone called and suggested we start a book,'' he said, watching people file in and out of the chapel Wednesday afternoon. ``They come and sit in the chapel. Some say a prayer before they sign. Some shed a tear. It's a sad day here.''

Following are excerpts from the Princess Diana condolence book at Reardon Mortuary. Residents can sign the book today between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the chapel at 2636 Sycamore Drive.

For the princess who lives in our hearts and in the sons you left behind, God bless you.''

``You were my hero. I cry and cry.''

``Rest in everlasting peace, my dear Princess of Wales. The world will long remember your poise, courage and elegance. As a Welsh-born expatriate, I will always have a special place in my heart for you. Good night, sweet one.''

``Prince William and Prince Harry, Your mother's grace and beauty brightened the world, and though she's irreplaceable, the world will now do its best to reflect her light back to you. With sadness that you were parted from her so early.''

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

Photo: (1--Color only in Conejo and Simi editions) Mourners visit Reardon Mortuary in Simi on Wednesday to sign a book of condolences for the Princess of Wales.

(2) Dozens pen a final message to Princess Diana, who was killed with three others in a Paris car crash Sunday morning.

Phil McCarten/Daily News

Box: (Ran in Conejo and Simi editions only) WHAT THEY ARE SAYING (See text)