A DEDICATED and ‘remarkable’ woman who supported St Rocco’s since it launched, died at the hospice two days after her 100th birthday.

Peggy Moss, who was awarded an MBE in 2002 for her charity work, was born in Manchester opposite the Palace Theatre and grew up with her aunt and uncle, Florence and George Evans.

When she was a teenager the family moved into a house on Bruche Drive in Padgate, where she lived until her death.

Peggy worked as a British Rail wages clerk in Manchester but after her retirement she began helping a number of charities including St Rocco’s.

The much-loved volunteer had a wide range of interests, from collecting paperweights, postcards and stamps to travelling, gardening and watching horse racing.

She gave up at least a day a week to help at the hospice and raised more than £10,000 for St Rocco’s through stamp collecting.

And when she retired from her role at the centre she donated 100 yellow rose bushes to the hospice.

Peggy was an active member of Padgate Methodist Church and her friend Stella Wilkinson, who has known her for 45 years, said: “She was a lovely lady, very independent and she had a wide circle of friends. She became a part of our family and sometimes spent Christmas with us.

“Peggy was a very caring, kind and compassionate person. She never shied away from giving her opinion on things but was so lovely with it.

“She was a wonderful lady and we were very glad she made it to her 100th birthday.

“She was in the hospice for the last days which was good because she was among friends and on her big birthday all the staff sang for her. It was her second home.”

After Peggy’s parents died she discovered she had a younger brother and sister and later, nieces and nephews.

Her family will be among the many guests expected at Peggy’s funeral at Padgate Methodist Church on July 27 at 1pm, with extra parking at St Oswald’s RC Church.