THE daughter of a popular Topsham woman said her life would never be the same again following the death of her wonderful mum. Elaine Johnson died of a heart attack at her home, in Denver Road, on Tuesday, January 19. Her funeral service took place yest

THE daughter of a popular Topsham woman said her life would never be the same again following the death of her 'wonderful' mum.

Elaine Johnson died of a heart attack at her home, in Denver Road, on Tuesday, January 19.

Her funeral service took place yesterday, February 3, at St Margaret's Church in Topsham.

The 59-year-old leaves two daughters, Jane Thomas, 33, and Teresa Moore, 27, as well as a granddaughter, Chloe, 3.

Jane, of Heneaton Square, said: "I am going to miss her so much. Our lives will never be the same." Holding back the tears, she added: "Words cannot express quite how I feel. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother."

Elaine had worked at a number of places in Topsham in her life including the library, surgery, play group and both Drakes pub and the Salutation.

She also used to be in a group called the Committed, a tribute band to the Commitments.

Jane joked: "She used to love dressing up.

"She could be outrageous and say things that most people wouldn't dream about saying but she would get away with it because that was the way she was.

"She loved to laugh and wasn't afraid to laugh at herself."

Jane thanked all the people in Topsham who knew Elaine for their messages of support.

"Both myself, Chloe, my sister, and our partners, are so grateful to the many phone calls, letters and cards we have received in the last week or so. It has been absolutely amazing.

"It has been Topsham's great community spirit that has helped me through this.

"I am so proud of the effect she has had on so many people. Everybody we have seen are shocked to the core with the news.

"Some of mum's closest friends have been absolutely terrific and I know that just because she is gone, these people won't leave us. They are our friends as well.

"We shared her love and heart with so many people - I never realised how many until she died."

Jane said one of her mum's many positive attributes was her sense of fun.

"The only thing that outweighed this was the size of her heart which was even bigger. She always had time to listen to people - and was a people's person.

"I've just had a card today which said 'your mum had the amazing ability that I would always be smiling when I left having had a conversation with her.'

"My mother was a beautiful person on the outside and inside."

Jane said her mum loved Topsham. "She was born in Exeter but moved to Topsham because her mother worked in the town. Her affiliation with the area moved on from there.

"She worked on the swimming pool committee and ran the play group where she made most of her very good friends."

Veronica Coe, who works in Topsham News and was a friend of Elaine's, said: "She was always up for a laugh. When it was Comic Relief for instance, she would walk around town with her bucket and collect.

"She was a lovely lady and so well-known in the town. She will be sorely missed.