TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved great-grandmother from York who has died at the age of 89.

Patty Longfield, who was born and lived in York all her life, passed away surrounded by her family at Fulford Nursing Home.

Shirley, her daughter, said: "She was funny and kind-hearted. We loved being with her and we will miss her a lot."

Patty was born in York to parents Elsie and Walter Robson and was brought up in Poplar Road with sisters Betty, Audrey and Anne.

She went to Poppleton Road School and when she left began working at Rowntrees as an enrober, decorating chocolates and sweets.

It was there she met her husband Ron in the 1940s but the couple had to wait to be come engaged as Ron was conscripted to the Navy, serving in the Arctic convoys delivering aid to Russia.

When Ron returned safely they married in St Paul's Church in Holgate in 1948 and went on to have daughters Anne and Shirley.

Patty went on to work in the Royal Station Hotel in the linen room, a dress shop in York and a newsagent at the end of Green Lane.

She and Ron celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary shortly before he passed away in 2008.

A proud great-grandmother, Patty was known for her love of baking and knitting.

Shirley said: "Family meant a lot to her. She used to like it when we were all together and we used to have a lot of parties at Christmas and in the New Year."

Towards the end of her life, Patty was cared for in Woolnough House in Tang Hall due to health problems.

She made the national headlines after she was accidentally left outside the care home earlier this year by carers, who forgot to bring her back into the building and clocked off. At the time City of York Council, which owns Woolnough House, “apologised unreservedly” to the family.

Following the incident, Patty suffered pneumonia and was taken into hospital.

After she recovered she was moved to Fulford Nursing Home where she passed away surrounded by her family on August 11.

Her family said the coroner recorded her cause of death as a stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

Patty's funeral was held at York Crematorium on Thursday.

She is survived by family including grandchildren Stuart, Helen and Nicky and great-grandchildren, Reece, Ewan, Jessica, Rowan and Leo.