Jane Scoones’ coffin was carried out of East Tytherley church to the sound of Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum and a huge round of applause from the 400 people who attended her funeral.

It was exactly how Jane had planned her final exit and was the perfect conclusion to a service that was a celebration of her remarkable life, filled with heart-felt tributes from family and friends, including Precious Moments, a song that was written for her by her husband, Rob and sung by her daughter, Caroline.

Those attending Friday’s funeral were simply asked to remember Jane with happiness rather than tears and sadness and to think of the joy she brought to life rather than the tragedy of her loss.

Jane’s battle with cancer ended on August 28, at the age of 55.

She fought the disease with courage and dignity, never complaining and forever telling her family there was nothing she could do about it so she might as well get on with it.

Jane loved life and lived it to the full, devoting much of her time to charitable and community work while raising a family and enjoying a wonderful social life that encompassed travel, gigs, supporting Saints and numerous parties at her home at Oaklands, in East Tytherley.

Jane was born in Hythe in February 1955 and moved to East Tytherley when she was 10. She attended West Tytherley Primary School and then La Retraite, in Salisbury, where she forged many life-long friendships.

She also attended Lockerley youth club and it was there that she met Rob. They were engaged in 1973, when Jane was 18 and married three years later.

They have three children, Caroline, Michael and William, as well as a son and daughter who predeceased them, granddaughter Roxy and a second grandchild due in November.

Family life was hugely important to Jane but she also found time for two mercy missions to Bosnia during the course of the war there, studying for a degree in her 40s that led to a career in counselling at Jane Scarth House, in Romsey and numerous fund-raising events for a variety of good causes including the cancer charities.

Locally, she was a church warden and member of St Peter’s parochial church council for over 25 years, hosted and helped to organise the East Tytherley fete and was involved with the children’s playground that opened this summer.

Then there was the bungy jumping, parachuting and white water rafting that made her the coolest mum in the world in her children’s eyes.

“In Jane’s short 55 years she managed to achieve more than most,” said the RevJames Pitkin at her funeral.

“She was great at noticing need and meeting it herself or getting others to do it … Even at the end, her concern was for others.”

Donations in memory of Jane can be made to Jane Scarth House, in Romsey and St Peter’s Church, East Tytherley.