Marge died at the Florence Nightingale Hospice on July 16 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was 86.

She was born Margery Elizabeth Corkett in Lily Crescent, Wing, on December 30, 1921, and lived in the village all her life.

Like most youngsters of her generation, Marge left school at 14 and entered the world of work.

First she was a machinist at Gossard of Leighton and later a supervisor for Woolworths before taking a job with the Co-op at Wing, just along the road from her High Street home.

Her husband, Ron, died in November 1982. They didn't have children and Marge is survived by three nieces, three nephews and her 95-year-old sister Joan.

She did have a large number of friends and a love of life and laughter that stayed with her to the end.

Marge was a tireless fundraiser for the hospice where she died and turned thousands upon thousands of LBO Target Stamps into hard cash, as well as acting as a collection point for donated items such as hand-made blankets and clothes for sale in the shop.

She served on Wing Parish Council and was the first to offer a helping hand to anyone in need, or channel her boundless energy into whatever campaign she believed in.

Aylesbury Vale District Council named her their volunteer of the year in 2004. Her charity work was honoured two years earlier with an award by the Friends of Florence Nightingale Hospice.

She enjoyed tennis and walking and listed Cliff Richard and Michael Ball among her favourite entertainers.

Her niece, Enid Smith, was at her bedside and said: "It was very peaceful.

"I was with her when she was diagnosed and as with everything she took it on the chin and got on with her life.

"Marge was very active and had a great sense of fun and I know she wouldn't mind me telling you she loved her food.

"She also loved whist drives and whist drived all over the show.

"We're all going to miss her very much."

The family would like to thank everyone for their kind messages of condolence and support and especially Macmillan and the district nurses for their care and kindness and of course the dedicated hospice staff.