A woman described as “a community asset” has died at the age of 77.

Irene Magor, who lived in Albert Road, Watford, was born in August 1938 and died at Harefield Hospital from heart failure in June this year.

She was the last survivor of four children having an older brother Ted, sister Eileen and brother Ron.

During her early years she worked for Northern Assurance, where she met her husband John.

The two took many holidays together and according to her family train journeys were one of their favourites.

Mrs Magor’s niece’s husband Paul Wilkinson said: “She dressed in the modern fashions, smoked and drove a car but not any old car.

“She drove a blue Triumph Herald convertible. I remember this well as she always got me to service and repair it for her at ‘family rates’ as she put it. That really meant free.

“I remember my wife and her sister saying how they always envied Rene and were quite jealous of her seemingly exciting lifestyle.

"When she took them out as young girls for a treat it could be to a show in London followed by a meal or a Christmas pantomime.”

Throughout their life together, Rene and John were never without a dog in their life, sometimes two and at one time three.

When her husband died, her family worried she would be lonely and alone but they were wrong.

The couple did not have any children but her nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews’ friends and neighbours’ children were all part of her life. She was also secretary of WI Beechen Grove.

Mr Wilkinson said: “She obviously missed John tremendously but got on with life and threw herself into her activities, including the Women’s Institute and the U3A.

“She had an uncanny knack of finding or quite often making gifts that nobody else would ever have thought of.

"If you supported Chelsea or Arsenal you would get some notelets with Manchester United embossed on them.

"Her thought was, it’s a football team so it must be right.”

Mr Wilkinson said she never forgot a birthday or to send a card at Christmas Mrs Magor’s early life had instilled in her a strong sense of independence.

She travelled, went to shows and never shied away from anything she wanted to do, her family remember.

Even despite having a major knee operation Mrs Magor continued driving and insisted on holidaying on cruises and train excursions without assistance.

Mr Wilkinson said: “Her loyalty to her friends was obvious. No more so than on the Saturday of her heart attack.

“She was due to take some friends to a function when she had what turned out to be her fatal attack and the first thing she thought of was not to call the ambulance but to call a taxi for her friends so they would not miss their appointment.

“She then waited until Monday morning to call the ambulance so as not to spoil anyone’s week end. By that time the damage was irreparable.”

Mrs Magor died at Harefield Hospital in June 2016.