FILL the church with flowers and celebrate Michele's life.Today the family of Michele Wood are urging people to gather together as many cut flowers as possible to fill St Luke's Church in Ipswich for her funeral next week.

FILL the church with flowers and celebrate Michele's life.

Today the family of Michele Wood are urging people to gather together as many cut flowers as possible to fill St Luke's Church in Ipswich for her funeral next week.

Up to 400 people are expected to gather to pay their final farewell to 45-year-old Mrs Wood on Tuesday who was found dead on a farm in Nacton last week following a two day search for her.

Anyone who wants to take part in the special occasion at 12.30pm is invited to bring along any cut flowers, except lilies, to the church in Cliff Lane on Monday, April 7, from 9.30am onwards.

Ken Mann, Mrs Wood's father, said: “She loved flowers so we wanted to fill the church with them. We want the church to smell of flowers. This should be a celebration service of Michele's life.”

Donations of any size or colour will be gratefully accepted.

Meanwhile an elderly man has today said he owes his life to Mrs Woods who helped save him when he suffered a serious heart attack.

Reg Smith, of Cliff Lane, Ipswich, had become good friends with Mrs Wood since his heart troubles four years ago

He first met Mrs Wood, of Medway Road, in 1990 when she joined Hatfield Road Surgery, where he worked as a part-time handyman and gardener, and he said she quickly became a popular member of staff.

In 2003, when Mr Smith collapsed in front of Mrs Wood's feet at the surgery, she immediately sprang into action along with other staff and used a defibrillator machine to restart his heart.

She also called his wife, Barbara, to tell her the news and took his car back to his home.

Mr Smith said: “I do owe her my life. The last thing I remember was falling at her feet. Michele and other colleagues worked on me and I started to breathe again. I woke up in Ipswich Hospital. When I was out of hospital a few days later, she apologised for destroying my t-shirt because they had to cut it when I collapsed.”

He said that from then on Mrs Wood stayed in touch and went round to see him every now and then.

Mr Smith had major heart surgery in Papworth Hospital the year after his scare and is now in good health.

He added: “I still cannot believe what has happened. I am really cut up about it.”

“She was calm, collected, and kind. I've never heard a bad word against her. If God had made a perfect person, it was her.

“She always kept in touch, which I will miss.”

Mrs Wood leaves behind her husband Pete, 20-year-old daughter, Hannah, and 16-year-old son Ben.

Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.