Tributes have been paid to 'kind, warm and generous' Suffolk mum Sigi Mermagen, who has died aged 53 after living with a form of brain cancer.
The former NHS and Suffolk County Council worker, who lived at Witnesham, died peacefully on September 26 and was devoted to helping charity brainstrust, which provides support for people with brain tumours and their loved ones.
She was featured in the EADT in September 2022 after friends raised the money to provide her with a new garden to fulfill her simple wish for a 'nice garden in which to sit'.
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Five of her friends also travelled to Fife in Scotland to undertake the Follow the Seagulls charity trek in aid of the brainstrust.
Sigi was born in Ipswich to parents Patrick and Inge and spent the first few years of her life living at Ipswich School, where Patrick was the headteacher.
After Patrick retired, the family, including Sigi's brother Nick, then moved to Otley and Sigi attended Woodbridge School before studying for her A-Levels at Ipswich School.
She went on to gain a degree in French Language and Literature with German from the University of Leeds.
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During her placement year working as an English teacher in Alsace, France, she discovered a passion for wine which she would pursue further by working in the wine trade, first as a trainee manager with Majestic Wines, then as a marketing assistant in the wine section of the French Embassy in London.
There then followed a career change as she worked first for the NHS and then Suffolk County Council, fulfilling a number of administrative roles before becoming a public health project officer.
She met her future husband Jon Malpass in December 2002 and the couple spent a lot of time travelling, visiting countries on all continents and attending music festivals including Glastonbury, The Secret Garden Party, near Huntingdon, and the dance focussed Glade Festival.
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They married in May 2013, shortly before the birth of their son Tom and the travelling gave way to more leisurely pursuits as Sigi enjoyed gardening and spending time with the family Labradors.
She also had time for her passions for teaching French and hosting wine tasting events, while she formed a close bond with the community in Witnesham, with many local residents helping to create the garden.
Jon said: "Sigi was a very kind, warm and generous person, who instantly offered the hand of friendship to all she met. She was never afraid of trying new things.
"To spend time with her would mean fun and adventure, but also knowing you'd be loved in return - often with a glass of wine or a slice of freshly baked cake."
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She was diagnosed with two Type 4 Glioblastoma Multiformes- brain tumours- after experiencing a seizure.
Surgeons at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge were able to remove one of the tumours, but the second could not be removed due to its position in the brain.
A private, family service will be held at Ipswich's Seven Hills Crematorium.
A service to celebrate Sigi's life will then be held at Ipswich School Chapel at 2pm on Saturday November 18.
Bright colours should be worn at the chapel service, with donations to the brainstrust and palliative care charity St Elizabeth Hospice, which cared for Sigi at the end of her life.
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