Heartrending tributes have been paid to an inspirational lady who touched the lives of so many people.

Patricia Compston, 55, a community link worker with CVS Inverclyde, passed away on Tuesday surrounded by her family after losing a brave battle against cancer.

Her grieving daughter led tributes to her strong, funny and beautiful mum.

Lucy, 25, said: "She was just the funniest, strongest and beautiful, she was the best mum and grandma ever, she was so unique and so quirky."

The former nurse, who worked for 12 years in Inverclyde Royal after training in Rothesay, was mum to Lucy and Emma, 35, and doted on her grandchildren Farrah, 10, Daisi, 7, and Tyler, who is nearly two.

Lucy said: "She was the best mum and the best grandma in the world, she thought the world of them and they thought the world of her.

"She was our whole world but even when she was ill, she always wanted to keep everything light-hearted."

Sadly Patricia had been ill for two years, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, which tragically spread to her lungs, kidney and brain.

Despite this devastating blow, Patricia tried to stay positive and fought every step of the way.

Lucy said: "She always said 'don't be scared, I'm not scared, I'll be strong' and she fought the illness until the very end.

"She was a one-off, a very special person, she didn't realise how loved she was, she took it all in her stride."

Lucy says she and Emma are still trying to come to terms with their terrible loss.

She said: "It's just so sad because of how amazing she was. She was a superwoman, hilarious, strong-hearted and quick-witted as well.

"I think she would like to be remembered for her happiness, the impact she had on everyone. She was Greenock born and bred and very proud of her community."

Patricia Compston pictured during her time working as a nurse (Image: Supplied)

Patricia spent her final three months being cared for at Ardgowan Hospice and the sisters spent a week-long vigil at her beside until she passed away surrounded by her daughters, brother Chris, and cousin Teresa Orr.

Lucy said: "We didn't leave her side for a week, she whispered 'I love you' two days before she passed away peacefully."

The family want to thank the hospice for the care their mum received from the hospice.

Lucy said: "They were amazing, no words can describe it, they were angels."

Patricia friends and colleagues also paid tribute to a 'real character with a kind heart and fighting spirit'.

A statement on behalf of CVS Inverclyde said: "We are deeply saddened by the death of Patricia, our much-loved friend and colleague, who recently passed away surrounded by her family.

"Patricia was a real character with a kind heart and fighting spirit and she fought her illness right until the very end, still displaying her unique blend of humour, straightforward talking and banter."

Colleagues said their friend had made such a difference to people in the community, especially during the pandemic, and helped to make it a better place.

CVS Inverclyde said: "Patricia made a huge impact in Inverclyde and touched many lives.  "Before becoming a Community Link worker, Patricia worked on a community project called Our Place, Our Future.  "Patricia was a natural at community development work and had such a lovely way with people in the community."

They added: "Her kindness and loyalty to her colleagues and friends, and her very unique way of looking at the world, will always be remembered, as will her individual style and zany sense of humour."

Patricia found her calling during Covid while her project was put on hold and she transferred over to help the community link team to support the local shielding service.

The CVS Inverclyde spokesperson said: "She genuinely loved to help people and would go out of her way to ensure the people in her locality had what they needed and were supported. We regularly had to remind her that you can't pour from an empty cup but helping people filled her heart.

"As a Community Link Worker Patricia had very clearly found a role where she thrived, felt she belonged and went above and beyond to support others to make positive change in their lives.

"She took on this role with her own brand of heartfelt care and good humour and was held in very high regard by everyone who had the good fortune to meet her – from colleagues in the sector to patients she worked with, as well as the wider community.

"Ardgowan Hospice took such wonderful care of Patricia and this enabled Patricia to spend precious time with her family and friends in recent months.  "Even while going through extremely challenging health issues, Patricia was constantly asking others what she could do for them.  "She will be sorely missed by all who knew her, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this difficult time."

Patricia, of Brachelston Street, also worked for Inverclyde Recovery Cafe, the Recovery Consortium in Glasgow and Your Voice.

A celebration of Patricia's life will be held at Greenock Crematorium on her birthday on July 11 at 11am.

CVS Inverclyde has opened a digital book of condolences for anyone in Inverclyde to share their thoughts and memories of Patricia HERE.