Hundreds of people took part in a virtual funeral this week to say goodbye to one of Bury St Edmunds' most well-known residents.

Around 200 people signed in to a webcast from West Suffolk Crematorium on Thursday, as Julie Moody, known for her "winning smile and mischievous cheeky laugh", was laid to rest.

Mrs Moody was one of the most well known people in Bury St Edmunds and worked at The Body Shop branch in The Buttermarket for 19 years.

She had a gift for making friends wherever she went and always kept in touch with people, all over the UK and the world.

Mrs Moody, from Moreton Hall, lost her three-year battle with bowel and liver cancer on August 10.

It was just ten months after her 60th birthday, two months after her 40th wedding anniversary to husband, Mike, 68, and just four months before she was due to become a grandmother for the second time.

Daughter, Nic, 42, faced a dilemma with so many people wanting to attend her mum’s funeral service.

With only 30 people allowed to attend under Covid-19 safety guidelines, she decided to live stream the funeral service, and then invited people to hold their own private wakes, and raise a glass of Barcadi and Coke, her mum’s favourite drink.

"Mum was just one of those people who made friends wherever she went, whether in her personal life, at the shop, on holiday, or while out touring on the back of my dad's motorbike,” said Nic, who also lives in Moreton Hall.

“She lived and worked in Bury all her life and couldn’t walk down the street without bumping into someone she knew. She also had many friends all over the world she kept in touch with and her Christmas card list was well over 400, every year.

“The funeral was live-streamed from the crematorium and then made available to watch later. So many people had wanted to be there.

"I think if there hadn’t been restrictions there would have been at least 500 people at the service, itself.”

Julie was persuaded to work at The Body Shop by her friend Judi Hardy, who founded thr Bury branch, in 1992. The very first customer, was husband, Mike. She worked at the shop until 2011, before rejoining Mike Moody's business, Mike Moody Motors.

"Julie was a spiritual person, she believed in heaven and the afterlife. She went to several clairvoyants, and received messages from loved ones that had passed," said Nic, in her funeral service eulogy.

"She believed that when a Robin visits you in the garden, or when a pure white feather crosses your path, it is a loved one from the other side checking in on you, and this comforted her often.

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"She commented just four weeks ago, that there must be a good party going on up there, with all the family and friends who have passed already

"In the first week since Julie’s passing, little Rosie has already said that Nanny is sitting on her bed asking for a hug. Be receptive to this and Julie will visit you."

Nic said: “Mum had the biggest warmest heart. Her personality meant she could chat to anyone, and would often turn complete strangers into friends.

“She was a smiley, happy, positive person, who never had a bad word to say about anyone. We will miss her positivity and thoughtfulness.

Everyone who knew her will remember her smile and cheeky mischievous laugh. She was the best wife, mum, nanny, friend, anyone could ask for.

"She was one in million.”

A fund has been set up in Julie’s memory to raise money for St Nicholas Hospice.

It can be found by searching Julie Moody’s Memorial at www.justgiving.com .

It has so far raised more than £1,100

You can watch the webcast of the funeral service at www.obitus.com and entering username: Kisu7550 | Password 426615