FELIXSTOWE: A town is in mourning today as a dearly loved and popular resident is laid to rest.

Friends and family have flocked to The Evening Star to pay their tributes to Anne Jennings, of Lynwood Avenue, who tragically died of a heart attack two weeks ago while out walking with friends on Ferry Road.

The 68-year-old was a devoted wife to Trevor, 65, a much-loved mother to Andrew, Lisa, Alexander and Richard, and a proud grandmother to her ten wonderful grandchildren.

Born in 1942, she was the daughter of a midwife and an RAF serviceman and grew up in rural Northamptonshire, where she often rode horses and enjoyed the outdoor life.

As a young mum, she worked as a hairdresser from home before taking on a job at East Midlands Electricity Board and later managing a lingerie shop in Desborough, Northamptonshire, before she retired in 2001.

She moved to Felixstowe with Trevor, her second husband whom she married in June 1981, nine years ago and the couple built up a fantastic network of friends.

Anne was a leader for Suffolk health walks and enjoyed Nordic walking - a form of power walking - as well as spending time on the couple’s yacht at Pin Mill.

She was also a devoted carer to her husband after he was diagnosed with bone cancer at Christmas last year, and a good friend to her 96-year-old neighbour Rita Potter.

Trevor said: “She was like an explosion of life. She just enjoyed every single minute of life.

“She was such an extrovert. She would walk into a room and hug everybody.”

Trevor has been overwhelmed by the community support since Anne’s death.

He said: “The neighbours and our close friends have been absolutely superb. The street has just come together because I think she was the key that linked everyone and everything.”

Anne’s funeral takes place today at Seven Hills Crematorium. The family has asked that no one wear black and donations be made to the Treehouse Appeal instead of flowers.

n For more tributes from across the world and pictures, buy today’s paper.

n Pay your tribute to Anne. Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or you can send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@ eveningstar.co.uk