Mourners gathered at St George’s Church on Friday to pay their respects to a former mayoress.

Joan Marven’s many passions meant those who attended her funeral knew her for a variety of reasons, whether they were neighbours who had tried to help her around the garden – only to be politely told she was quite capable of doing whatever task it was herself – or through her art classes or her husband’s politics.

The opening hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful, was a reference to the first of these passions.

Welcoming friends and family, the Rev Canon Chris Stone, the rector of Gravesend, said it was strange not to see the regular churchgoer in her usual seat half way down the aisle.

Retired nurse Joan passed away peacefully last month at ellenor hospice aged 85, five years after her husband of 56 years, county councillor Frank.

She is survived by her sons John and Ian.

She met Frank – a Scout leader – while at work, with Mr Stone recounting the story to the church.

“Frank took an injured Scout to the hospital Joan was working at but quickly became more interested in her,” he said, adding: “I never did find out what happened to the Scout.”

The couple married at St James’ Church in 1956 and served as mayor and mayoress of Gravesham from 1982 to 1983.

Joan was born in Romford before moving to Hartley when she was two and going on to attend St Joseph’s Convent School. She worked as a district nurse in Northfleet and Swanscombe after training at Gravesend Hospital.

The couple lived in Darnley Road before moving to Chalky Bank, where they became well known in the community.

At the time of Frank’s death in 2012 she said: “It was definitely love at first sight for me and we had a great love. Before he went he told me he had no regrets and lived life to the full.”

Following the service, which was concluded by Pachelbel’s Canon, family and friends headed to Gravesend Crematorium to say their final farewells before attending a wake at The Three Daws, in Town Pier Square.