The hearse of a Christmas-daft gran who died from cancer was led by an elf to mark her love of the festive season.
Elizabeth Roche sadly passed away on June 17 after a long and brave battle with cancer.
The 73-year-old’s family asked A.V Band Funeral Directors if they could help pay tribute to her passion for Christmas.
Heartwarming pictures from Friday's funeral show undertaker George Birch leading the hearse while wearing a red-and-green elf costume.
Mrs Roche's daughter Anita said: "Mum was a single mother to four daughters and a grandmother of 15 children.
"She was the strongest person I know and we all idolised her. We wanted to give her the world at her funeral as that is what she did for us her whole life.
"When she got ill the doctors warned us she didn't have a lot of time left. We took her home and cared for her.
"We wanted her to be with us until the end. Her family was her entire life.
"We didn't think she would make it to Christmas, but she surprised us all and we had the best Christmas ever last year.
"One of my sister's husbands dressed up as an elf and handed out presents. She loved it.
"This is where the idea to have an elf at the funeral came from.
"Mum loved a laugh and a joke, despite her having a very difficult life she was always smiling even when she was in the worst stage of her illness."
Mrs Roche, of Worcester, was laid to rest on Friday afternoon.
Daughter Anita, 40, added: "Mum was popular and well-known around Worcester as she lived here all her life.
"She would be stopped in the street all the time for a chat. She was quite the character. We loved her more than words can say.
"The ceremony was so very beautiful, all the grandchildren had a purple balloon which they let go at the graveside.
"When mum was lowered into the ground it just poured down, which we thought was very fitting."
Hired 'elf' Mr Birch added: "With the current climate, a lot of our clients are having to have funerals that are completely different and very restricted.
"It has been really hard on families and staff and we have had a very damaging and stressful couple of months.
"To be able to fulfil this lighthearted and funny request was actually a relief to many of us.
"Dressing up as an elf, as funny as it sounds, has brought a real morale boost to us all.
We are so happy we have given Elizabeth the send off she wanted."
