WARM tributes have been paid to a loved and respected York woman, who has finally found peace after losing her battle with cancer.

Shirley Lodge, 37, of Canham Grove, learned she had a tumour in her pelvis as doctors were treating her for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which flared up during a flight to Goa in April.

The secondary tumour, which may have contributed to the DVT, came four years after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent a hysterectomy.

Shirley died on October 4, two days after she told doctors at Roundhay Hall Hospital, in Leeds, that they should stop her chemotherapy treatment.

Her devastated husband, Tim, 40, who was with her in the hospital when she died, said she was so weak that the time had come to say goodbye.

He said: "Shirley had so many friends that wanted to see her get better. All the time she was in hospital, friends, including regulars at The Maltings in York, were popping in to see her.

"But it was her decision to stop the treatment, and I always said it was her decision."

About 150 people are expected at her funeral on Monday, including colleagues from the Evening Press, where Shirley worked for more than 20 years, most recently in the IT department.

Shirley's sister, Angela, 42, who is married to Tim's brother Pete Lodge, said Shirley loved life and always made people laugh.

She said: "After she made her decision to stop treatment they took all the tubes and drips away, just leaving her with pain relief.

"She looked more peaceful and we just kept saying: 'Go to sleep, Shirley, go to sleep'.

"After she died that anxious look was gone from her face. They say you look at peace when you die and she did. She was out of pain and she wasn't frightened any more."

Kevin Stannard, Evening Press IT manager, said: "During the past 20 years Shirley has been a much-respected member of staff and a great ambassador for the company. Her death will be a huge loss."

The funeral service will take place at York Crematorium at 3pm on Monday. Donations to York Against Cancer are welcome.

Updated: 10:20 Saturday, October 12, 2002