THE daughter of a dedicated volunteer has paid tribute to the 'glue' of her family following her death.

Mena Trethewey, who continued to help others even while she was suffering, died on Tuesday, January 12 aged 77, following a long battle with cancer.

Maria Dennedy, Mrs Trethewey's daughter said: "She was the glue that stuck us together.

"We are all very close and when things like this happen it brings you closer but she was very much the head of the family."

Mrs Trethewey was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago but was given the all-clear three years later.

Despite this she continued to suffer pain and was diagnosed with lung cancer in March last year.

Sadly she died as a result of the cancer earlier this month.

The mother-of-five was born in Slough and lived in Colnbrook, Burnham, Eton and Eton Wick during her lifetime.

She was also grandmother to 28 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren and only met six-month-old Darcie-Michelle, the youngest member of the family, days before she passed away.

From 1992 she worked as a boy's maid at Eton College until she retired aged 65.

Mrs Dennedy added: "She loved working there looking after the boys. We always used to joke and say she was the mum for them while they were away from their own mums."

Mrs Trethewey did voluntary work with children in the Philippines and more recently volunteered at Eton Wick library and Eton Wick Church of England First School.

Just last year, she was named as the RBWM Libraries and Heritage volunteer of the year. Mrs Dennedy said: "It meant everything to her. She had the award up on the wall by the front door so everyone saw it when she opened the door."

"She wasn't happy unless there were children around her and that's why she loved the Philippines so much."

Mrs Trethewey's volunteering efforts also included helping the homeless. She was involved in the London Slough Run and joined the Big Sleep Out in November 2014 in a cardboard box to raise money for the Winter Night Shelter.

While suffering with cancer, Mrs Trethewey co-ordinated the library's Knit and Knatter group to produce jumpers for disadvantaged babies.

Mrs Dennedy said: "She was still full of life even near the end.

"She wanted her funeral to be a celebration of her life not something sad so that's what we have tried to organise."

Mrs Trethewey's funeral was held at St John the Baptist Church in Eton Wick yesterday (Thursday) and was attended by people from all over the country who wanted to pay their respects to her.