AN INSPIRATIONAL woman who was dedicated to raising funds for a hospice while herself battling with cancer has died.

Pat Lewis finally lost her fight with the disease at the end of last month aged 76.

She was the driving force behind the Friends of St Anne's Hospice and was awarded the MBE for her charitable work in 2004.

Her husband David, treasurer of the Friends, said they were trying to reach a £1.5 million landmark before she died but now hoped people would help them reach the target in her memory.

After training as a chiropodist in London she set up a number of practices on returning to her home area.

She married in 1956 and their son Mark was the first child born in the maternity wing of St Joseph's Hospital, later to become St Anne's Hospice, in 1961. Her daughter Kathryn was born in 1965.

Mrs Lewis became a JP, working as a magistrate in Pontypool and Cwmbran for 20 years.

She first developed breast cancer in 1984 but recovered with the help of sisters and staff at St Joseph's Hospital who asked her to set up the Friends of St Joseph's and later the Friends of St Anne's.

"She was a wonderful wife and mother who I enjoyed spending a life with," said Mr Lewis, who lives near St Briavels.

She received from the sisters, staff and medical consultants at St Joseph's and St Anne's as well as the help from St David's Foundation towards the end of her life.

  • Mrs Lewis's funeral takes place on Thursday at 12 noon in St Mary's Church, Abergavenny, where she was married followed by a service at Gwent Crematorium at 1.30pm.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made at the church or made payable to the Friends of St Anne's Hospice and sent to the Friends of St Anne's office, Harding Avenue, Newport, NP20 6ZE.