Tributes have been paid to a caring and gentle great grandmother.

Gena (Virginia) Kercher of Weymouth passed away peacefully in her sleep aged 89.

The Swannery Court resident leaves behind Eddie, who she was married to for 69 years.

The pair had known each other for 71 years.

They met at a REME dance in Aldershot on New Year’s Eve in 1949.

The Kerchers moved to Weymouth from Aldershot after falling in love with the area during stays in their static caravan.

They had featured on BBC1’s The One Show around the time of Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.

In her working life Gena was a warehouse supervisor and attended school in Southampton and Aldershot.

She passed away at the Joseph Weld Hospice in Dorchester on June 4 with her husband Ed and daughter Stella by her side. She was also mother to Deb.

Stella said: “Mum was caring, gentle and loving. She hosted amazing Christmases, never judged, always had a cuddle for you, enjoyed good company, her true spirit and loved her family.”

Stella said her mum was ‘wise, warm, and never had a a bad word to say about others and enjoyed a glass of good wine.’