Tributes have been paid to a loving nan whose wish was to donate unopened Christmas presents as prizes to support the charity that cared for her.

Sylvia Sadd, from Whitton in Ipswich, received end-of-life care at St Elizabeth's Hospice after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of small cell cancer.

Ipswich Star: Sylvia Sadd, at the age of 10.Sylvia Sadd, at the age of 10. (Image: Victoria Soanes)

Her granddaughter Victoria Soanes is more than halfway to raising £1,000 in her memory.

Born in Birmingham, Mrs Sadd met her husband Tony, who was originally from Essex, at the Bob Wilson's Fair.

Ipswich Star: Sylvia and Tony Sadd met working on a fair in Birmingham.Sylvia and Tony Sadd met working on a fair in Birmingham. (Image: Victoria Soanes)

The couple moved to Ipswich and have three children, eight grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Her granddaughter Victoria said: "We were a close family. Nan and mum had one house between them.

"She went to Slimming World once a week for 15 years and was part of the social team. We always laughed that she didn't go to Slimming World to lose weight, she went for her one night out a week, she made friends with people there."

Ipswich Star: Victoria Soanes paid tribute to her nan Sylvia Sadd and is raising money for St Elizabeth Hospice in her memory.Victoria Soanes paid tribute to her nan Sylvia Sadd and is raising money for St Elizabeth Hospice in her memory. (Image: Victoria Soanes)

Mrs Sadd's illness developed quickly and the 75-year-old was told she had cancer which had spread from her lungs to her lymphnodes and liver.

After two weeks in hospital, she was transferred to St Elizabeth Hospice.

Due to Covid restrictions, Mrs Sadd was able to have one named visitor while a patient in hospital but this was extended to her whole family when she was receiving care with the hospice.

Mrs Sadd died at the hospice on December 30 and the family praised the care she received.

Ipswich Star: The family of Sylvia Sadd are raising money for St Elizabeth Hospice in her memory.The family of Sylvia Sadd are raising money for St Elizabeth Hospice in her memory. (Image: Victoria Soanes)

Mrs Soanes said her grandmother had been so impressed with the hospice she told her family she wanted to volunteer, though she knew she was very ill.

"We did not celebrate Christmas, so she did not give the presents out to us. She knew she was dying and we had the conversation that would like to raise money for the hospice.

"They're [The hospice] angels. They did what they could and made her comfortable and they made her laugh. She never ate as much food as when she was there." said Mrs Soanes.

Ipswich Star: Tributes have been paid to Sylvia Sadd who died on December 30 at the age of 75.Tributes have been paid to Sylvia Sadd who died on December 30 at the age of 75. (Image: Victoria Soanes)

There are nearly 100 prizes that will be given away as part of the fundraiser which surpassed the family's initial target of £500 in five days.

Tickets can be bought for £1 each with the winners announced on March 6.

To donate to the fundraiser search on Facebook Vicky's fundraiser raffle for St Elizabeth's Hospice.