Tributes to brave Gourock woman who fought cancer battle

Inspirational Joanne Kelly passed away aged 80 having spent the last six years as a community councillor where she fought to improve facilities for visitors and daytrippers.

She devoted her life to other people, volunteering for many years with the Inverclyde Tourist Group as well as Victim Support, helping witnesses in the court.

A retired teacher, Joanne travelled the world working in international schools in Germany and Kenya among others.

(Image: contributed)

Her beloved niece Geraldine Harron, the secretary of Gourock Community Council, said: "My aunt was a real activist all her life, she cared about the place she lived and the people.

"She was a huge inspiration to me and to all her family. I spent many happy times visiting her in Kenya when she worked in a school.

"My aunt was an incredible person, we are from a very big and close knit family. My mum Margaret and her other sisters used to regularly go to visit her abroad .

"She loved living in Gourock and she was on the community council, where she made a great contribution.

"Her involvement with the tourist group made her passionate about bringing visitors to Gourock.

"She came up with the idea of rickshaw rides and had managed to get funding for it.

"Even when she was ill she only ever thought of other people.

"Since she passed away we have had messaged from people who knew her in all different capacities.

"Past school pupils, friends and family from all different countries tuned into the live stream at her funeral."

Joanne Kelly (Image: contributed)

On her return from working abroad Joanne also volunteered for Adult Literacies as well as working in many local schools.

Joanne was also an accomplished artist, a trained professional dancer and for many years she was a member of the Arts Guild, She was involved with Inverclyde Voices and also the Patritian Singers, where she did the teas at concerts and also helped out at the Beavers.

Her love for teaching took her all over the world and she spoke a few languages including German, French and some working Swahili.

Born and brought up in Greenock, Joanne was the youngest of six growing up in first Lyndoch Street and then Mallard Crescent. 

The 80-year-old former primary teacher died earlier this month having survived breast cancer, before battling skin cancer and losing her fight to cancer of the oesophagus.

Joanne's is survived by her sisters Christine, Margaret and brother Walter as well as her much loved nieces and nephews.