Although a native of the Spen Valley, Evelyn Burrell had strong connections with the Dewsbury area where many of her family lived and worked.

She also regularly attended the luncheon club at Dewsbury Elim Pentecostal Church and was a regular shopper on Dewsbury Market, where she had worked for some years at Cross's Pork Butchers.

Evidence of her popularity was marked by the huge attendance at Dewsbury Crematorium for her funeral service, conducted by the Rev Paul Hudson, of the Elim Church.

He said Evelyn's life had not been easy and she had known great personal sorrow but she had also known great happiness and her life had been fulfilled.

She married at 16 and her first child, Robert, lived only five hours. Two years later her husband, Fred Le-Gassick, died suddenly.

At 19, she was a widow with a two-year-old daughter, Pauline, to raise on her own, but she had a loving supportive family who helped her cope.

She had survived great pain and trauma but this had moulded her into the loving and loved person she was. Her life later took a different path when she met and married Bill Burrell and had a son, Billy, a brother for Pauline.

"Evelyn lived in a generation where if you needed something you had to go out to work and save up for it," said Mr Hudson.

"When she needed a vacuum cleaner in 1947 she went to work nights at Bulmer and Lumbs Mill in Heckmondwke to pay for it. That vacuum is still in her home and still working."

Later she went to work full time and stayed at the firm 25 years. In 1973 she went to work at Booths, and later at Resin Form in Roberttown. Just when Evelyn had reached retirement age, she joined Cross's Pork Butchers in Dewsbury, where her daughter Pauline and grandson Wayne work, and stayed there way past retirement.

"Evelyn was not just a survivor, she was a grafter, a friend and protector of the family and generous to all who went through her door," he said.

Evelyn, whose husband Bill, died some years ago, is survived by daughter Pauline and son Billy, son-in-law Peter, daughter-in-law Diana and nine grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.