Fun-loving grandmother Linda Townend's funeral held in Goldthorpe social club

And the 72-year-old, self-styled party girl (pictured, above right) was given the send-off she asked for when friends and family donned bright colours and gathered this week for her funeral - at the Goldthorpe social club where she spent so many happy evenings.

Grand-daughter Patricia Rhodes said: “Nanan loved a good time and was the life and soul of the party.

“Normally, people will have the wake in the pub but not the funeral, too. But she said she didn’t want a sad funeral service and we should have a big party instead.

“It has definitely been a colourful and memorable day, and one my nanan would have loved.”

Son-in-law Gary Calder, who wore a yellow Hawaiian shirt to the service at the Comrades Club on Tuesday, said Linda, of Hope Avenue, had been arranging her own wake in the days before she died.

“She was always having barbecues and open house — everyone was welcome,” Gary said.

“She’d had friends the week before but she wanted to go to her own wake and was planning it when she died.

“She was a typical Yorkshire lass — so friendly.”

Patricia described Goldthorpe-born and bred Linda, who died from cancer on June 21, as a “local legend”.

She was buried alongside her late husband Ralph, who died nine years ago.

Music at Tuesday’s service included A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman, Smile by Nat King Cole and Elton John’s Candle in the Wind.

A collection for Macmillan Cancer Support of £585 was made in lieu of flowers.

Following a private burial service at Bolton on Dearne cemetery, relatives returned to the Comrades for the disco-style wake.