A YORK woman who worked tirelessly for more than 20 years delivering meals-on-wheels to the elderly has died, aged 88.

Ivy Saunders, from Rawcliffe, was involved with the Women's Royal Voluntary Service in the Clifton and Rawcliffe areas for 25 years.

She also took library books to the house-bound and drove elderly people to church and to the blind club.

Ivy moved to York in 1943 from London after her husband, Arthur, was posted to the area.

The couple had four children, Graham, Derek, Elaine and Barbara, and were heavily involved with Clifton Methodist Church. Arthur was killed in a car crash in 1960, leaving Ivy to bring up their children alone.

After her children left home she became more involved in community activities.

When her health began to fail she moved to a residential home in Whitley Bay, where she died eight weeks later.

Her funeral was taking place at York Crematorium today, followed by a celebration of her life at Clifton Methodist Church.

The family has requested that rather than flowers donations should be made to Clifton Methodist Church.

Updated: 10:41 Monday, June 09, 2003