FAMILY and friends filled a church for the funeral of a young mother who died after a long battle with cancer.

Paula Conroy, 34, of Churchill Avenue, Chatham, became well known in the Medway area after a pub collection allowed her to fulfil her dream of seeing her four children go up in an aeroplane.

Paula was too ill to go up with them but she watched as they set off from Rochester Airport in August last year.

The funeral at St Simon Stock in Walderslade, followed a procession from her home. Fr Christopher Keen, who conducted the service, said: "She was who she was: strong in personality, with all the effervescence that that meant, a person larger than life who lived life to the full.

"Paula's life had an influence on everyone she touched. She was strong and she knew what she wanted."

Paula was born in London. Her family moved to Chatham when she was young, living at Crestway and then Churchill Avenue.

She went to Luton Junior School, Walderslade GirlsÕ School and Upbury Manor School in Gillingham.

Pub regulars at the Medway Queen in Churchill Avenue set up a collection to pay for her children to have the plane ride.

Paula died at home in the arms of partner Colin Gray. They had had plans to marry. .

She also leaves her four children - Stacie, 15, Nancie, 13, Dannie-Le, 11, and Charlie, 10.

Donations in Paula's memory can be made to the Wisdom Hospice in Rochester on 01634 830456.