A family celebrated the life of a former March woman who died in America at the age of 79.

Rita Hilda Young, nee Lefevre, gathered to say a fond farewell to a much-loved member of a long-standing March family.

Rita was born on August 16 1934 to Hilda and Frank Lefevre at their home in Gaul Road March and was a pupil at the March High School.

The youngest of four children she grew up during World War II and knew the importance of living with family and close friends.

Her grandfather Jim Lefevre was the licensee of the Windmill Inn in the High Street for 47 years.

Always adventurous by heart, Rita found her life partner and married American soldier, Master Sergeant James (Jack) Young junior and the pair moved to America.

Rita embraced her British heritage and new life, watching her son and daughter find their own paths and throughout her husband’s working career she experienced life in several of the States including New Mexico.

In the 70s and 80s she ran a successful poodle parlour.

Eventually she became a resident of Tampa where she lived for 45 years until her death in June 2014.

Dr Anna Franz carried out her mother’s wish to be laid to rest with her sister Doll Pinning and her parents in England and her ashes were brought back to the Fens for internment.

Anna travelled with her husband John, their three children and granddaughter from their home in Washington to join the celebration of Rita’s life which was held at The Griffin following interment at Eastwood Cemetery where acknowledgment was made to Rita’s son James who died in California in 1985.