CANVEY has said goodbye to community stalwart Meryl Ponder.

Mrs Ponder passed away at the age of 64, after a 17-year battle with breast cancer.

She was well-known for her immense community spirit and helping Canvey residents through organising clubs, events and societies to help those less fortunate than her.

Her mum Beryl Dore, 88, also from Canvey, told the Echo her daughter was simply a one-in-a-million.

She said: “Her funeral was so beautiful.

“Meryl was known by many people on Canvey and I know there are many who will miss her smiling face.

“She organised several groups for parents with disabled babies and for elderly residents to meet up at.

“Meryl organised outings for the elderly, and the children and their parents too. They all loved it.

“She also gave hampers at Christmas to the ambulance and fire services.

“Meryl delivered Easter eggs and cards to children personally.

“It was unbelievable what she did for the community.

“Those at the Our Lady of Canvey & The English Martyrs R C Church she attended are missing her dearly.”

Her funeral was held on Thursday, September 26, and described as a “wonderful event” by family members.

Beloved Meryl died on September 10 while being looked after at the Fair Havens Hospice in Westcliff.

Mrs Dore added that Meryl’s pen pal from Minnesota, USA, was due to visit this month.

She said: “They had been writing to each other for 30 years.

“Meryl had flown over twice to see her.

“This was the first time that Jane was flying to the UK.

“Unfortunately the day she landed was the afternoon that Meryl passed away.

“All of us, and Jane, still did all the plans that Meryl had organised.”

Beryl also wanted to place her thanks to the Fair Havens Hospice, who looked after Meryl for the weeks leading up to her passing.

She added: “The whole family want to thank the hospice.

“From the bottom of our hearts, for the doctors, nurses and all of the staff, nothing was too much trouble.

“They welcomed us and gave us a lovely room.

“For the short time Meryl was there, all our family and friends were welcomed with tea and biscuits.

“She was so well looked after.”

Beryl described how eventful her daughters life was.

She said: “She smiled all the way through her illness. She lost her first child before they were born. Meryl then adopted a boy with special needs when he was three. He’s 40 now.

“I’ll miss her terribly. We were very close. Her husband Roger has dementia and is being looked after in a home.”