FRIENDS and family gathered to pay their respects to a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother, just weeks after celebrating her 70th wedding anniversary.

FRIENDS and family gathered to pay their respects to a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother, just weeks after celebrating her 70th wedding anniversary.Kathleen Marchant, 90, died peacefully in hospital on Monday, March 17, after suffering multiple health complications. Born in Newton Poppleford on August 6, 1917, Mrs Marchant went into service at the age of 14 and worked for a builder before joining the staff at the Cedar Shade Hotel where she worked for more than 40 years.Mrs Marchant met her husband, Cecil, when they were at school and they married at St Gregory's Church, Harpford, on February 12, 1938.Mr and Mrs Marchant moved to Brewery Lane in 1939 and went on to have two sons, Peter and David, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.Peter, 69, who lives in Exeter, said: "She was just a great mum and a wonderful grandmother and great grandmother. "She was good to the grandchildren and loved having them to stay with her at the weekends and taking them to the beach."A funeral service is being held at Harpford Church this afternoon (Friday, March 28).