A VICAR today paid tribute to the “fortitude and good humour” shown by a Fenland woman who died suddenly this week.

Lisa Owen, the 42 year-old daughter of Fenland councillor and former March Mayor Kit Owen, was found dead at her Wisbech St Mary home on Monday.

The Rev Mathew Bradbury, vicar of Wisbech St Mary, Guyhirn and Rings End, said: “Lisa suffered with chronic ill health because of a serious back injury sustained during her military service as a nurse in the Royal Navy.

“Every day she faced pain and restricted mobility with fortitude and good humour.

“She was a fine example to us all of courage and resilience in adversity.”

The Rev Bradbury said Lisa was a “valued and much loved” member of the congregation at St Mary’s Church.

“She was a talented photographer and was compiling some of her delightful pictures of the church and from her travels abroad for a calendar to be sold in aid of church funds,” he said.

“Our deepest sympathy goes out to Oliver (her son), to Councillor Owen and to all of Lisa’s family and friends.”

Her father was told the news on Tuesday in America where he had been spending Christmas and New Year with his son Jonathan. He is due home on Friday.

A post-mortem examination is being held into Lisa’s sudden death and the coroner has been informed.

She had been at her home in Wisbech St Mary with her son Oliver when she died. The nine-year-old had been playing at a neighbour’s home and when Lisa failed to collect him, police were alerted and later discovered her body at her home.

Two-and-a-half years ago, a proud Lisa, a former naval nurse, had walked ahead of the coffin bearing her mother’s body, Beverley, who had also died �suddenly.

Beverly, a former Miss Anglia and Miss UK finalist, had collapsed while shopping in Tesco.

She was taken to hospital but died the following day.

Council leader Alan Melton, in a message sent to fellow councillors, said: “I am sure you will all join me in expressing our deepest sympathies and sorrow at this time and that our thoughts and prayers are with Kit and his family.”