Victorian-style send off

PLUMED horses drawing a glass-sided Victorian carriage led the funeral procession of Mrs Rita Molica-Franco from the family home in Lyminster to St Catherine s Church, Little-hampton, on Friday.

Family and friends gathered to pay their last respects to the well-loved and respected mother of eight, who died aged 65.

A silver limousine followed the carriage. It was filled with brightly coloured bouquets, a fitting tribute to a woman who loved flower- arranging and won numerous trophies for her arrangements. Her daughter Carmela Maynard said she was a loving mother and grandmother to her 17 grandchildren and said she had been heart-broken since her husband of 42 years, Rosario, died in February.

"We think she died of a broken heart," she said.

Mrs Molica-Franco ran a market stall with her husband for 17 years in Littlehampton, selling eggs, fruit and vegetables.

As well as flower-arranging, she enjoyed playing bingo and was something of a bargain hunter, scouring markets for attractive and unusual items.

She was the much loved mother of Maria, Natale, Anthony, Joseph, Mariella, Anna, Rosario and Carmela.