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“Dorothy was a larger-than-life character. There was no monotony when she was around... conversations with her were never dull.”

Those were the words of Seamus King, an organiser of a literary weekend in Ireland, at the funeral of Dorothy Cheesmur Ellis.

The bi-annual weekend was devoted to the Sister Fidelma Mysteries, written by her husband, Peter Berresford Ellis, and set in Cashel, County Tipperary.

The festival began in 2006, and the sixth weekend was due to be held in September but was postponed due to Dorothy’s illness.

She died on March 30, aged 75, following a battle with cancer. She had lived with Peter in Archway since 1981.

The chapel at Islington Cemetery, in East Finchley, was packed on Monday for a humanist ceremony in her memory.

Mr King told the service: “Dorothy has been an integral part of these weekends. Usually they attract people from different countries and sometimes a person may not know anyone on a first visit. Dorothy was good at noticing such a person and made it her business to become acquainted and make the person part of the group.

“If Peter and other speakers were important at a formal level, Dorothy was vital on a social and personal level at making these weekends a success.

“She will be greatly missed when we hold the next Féile Fidelma.”

The service was conducted by Steph Bramwell, of the British Humanist Association, who said that Peter had received messages of condolence from New Zealand, Japan and Argentina.

She added: “Dorothy was a vibrant personality, full of interests and full of energy, the sort of person who would welcome strangers and keep an eye out for anyone feeling lost or lonely.

“She cared about community and about social justice. She loved music and dancing. She had a mystical side and a practical side. She was intelligent and resourceful and independent, with a zest for life and a gift for friendship as you can see just by looking around and seeing how many people are here.

“Her death leaves a gap in life that nobody else will fill. There will never be anybody quite like her.”

Dorothy was fascinated by Ireland’s history and culture. Her interest in the country was represented in the service by folk ballad The Fields of Athenry and 10th century poem Storm At Sea. That was chosen to represent the storm she went through with her illness.

Dorothy was Labour’s fundraising officer in Islington’s Hillrise ward for a period. An active campaigner, she took a stand against a proposal to sell Ashmount School for housing.

She was one of the first people to support Jeremy Corbyn’s 1983 election campaign. Last week he paid tribute to her spirit and tenacity.

The celebration of Dorothy’s life continued at The Spaniard’s Inn, in Hampstead, a pub she loved for its literary connections.

Donations can be made to St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney, where Dorothy died.