Betty Hutcheson, 97, passed away on Tuesday, October 7, eight weeks after being diagnosed with an aggressive bone plasma cancer.

A resident in the village for 64 years, Mrs Hutcheson was a devoted mum-of-three and a well-known figure in the community.

Even at the age of 96 she lived independently in her own home, with some support from a carer, neighbours, taxi drivers and family.

Her daughter, June McAuliffe, 57, described her as a “matriarch of the village,” and told how her sudden passing had left the family devastated.

And she also described how Betty, a life-long Gazette reader, had been convinced just days before her death that she had been on the front page of our weekly newspaper.

June said: “It was so vivid the way she described it to me, I’m not sure if it was her recalling a memory from before or having a premonition, but she was convinced a few days before her death that she was on the front of The Gazette.

“The details were so graphic that she told every visitor. This went on for about three days until she recovered her mental faculties as the infections subsided, fortunately. However my brother, niece and I will remember it in years to come.

“She was a legend and very gracious and formidable. I think her greatest achievements included being invited to dinner with the Queen for the work she had done in Brookfield, but mostly, her family.

“We were very close. She has lived a very colourful life however we are still shocked at her death because we always had the belief she would pull through this.” A grandmother-of-one to Fiona, 30, from Bridge of Weir, Betty was a devoted family woman who had largely supported the community by taking part in country dancing events, gala days, handiwives guild, SWRI, bowling and curling clubs.

Betty, of Victoria Road, was also a former president of the village’s Rural club and tirelessly raised funds for charity.

Formerly married to lawyer Robert Forrest Hutcheson, before he passed away at the age of 61, Mrs Hutcheson was both a devoted wife and mother.

Her granddaughter Fiona described her as “very independent” and recalled her gran’s determination to get well whilst battling cancer.

She said: “All she kept saying was ‘I want to go home,’ ‘I am going home,’ even though she was still being treated in hospital.

“I think that proved just how determined she always was. Her only hope was to go to her own home, full stop, no matter what everyone else said.” The funeral of Mrs Hutcheson was held last Wednesday, October 15, at St Machar’s Ranfurly Church, in Bridge of Weir.

Almost the entire Brookfield community flooded the local church to take part in the celebration of her life.

June said: “Everything fell into place and we really were able to celebrate mum’s life throughout the day. Neighbours stood at their gates in all three roads, which was also amazing.

“Eight of us walked behind the hearse between the two houses and we celebrated her homecoming with a dram — Highland Park — one of her favourites.” The family have made a donation to the Panda Children’s Centre at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, where Mrs Hutcheson passed away, and have also raised for £185 Myeloma UK to support ongoing research into the disease.