The devastated daughter of a woman who passed away in France after suffering a heart attack is anxiously waiting for her mum to make her final journey home.
Marguerita Martin, 56, died while on holiday with her husband of three years, David, 55, following years of battling a debilitating illness.
Daughter Anna Bateman, 32, said: “This was like a honeymoon for my mum and David and they were having such a lovely time.
“Mum and David had both been ill and hadn’t managed to fit in a honeymoon so this was something they were so looking forward to.
“Mum is still in France and David is with her. I am now just waiting to have her brought back home to Dundee.
“I can’t believe this has happened. My mum was the life and soul of the party and even although she had been ill I still didn’t believe this would happen.
“I’m going to miss her so much, as are her many friends in Scotland and all over the world.”
Paying tribute to her mum from her home on Perth Road, Anna said that Marguerita, who had lived in Tayport since her wedding, was an inspirational person who made friends wherever she went.
She said: “Mum was the kind of person who would do anything for anyone and frequently did.
“She was involved in so many groups and organisations and everyone she met loved her.”
Marguerita first became ill around five years ago but Lucy says she was never given a definitive answer as to what was wrong.
She said: “We know it was some kind of neurological condition that affected her in many ways.
“Sometimes her eyesight would go completely and that really scared her. However, although she tried to get answers to what was happening, no-one seemed to be able to give her definite answers.
“She struggled on and was always putting others needs before her own, even when she was really unwell.
“She was second-generation Italian and loved to cook for her family and friends.
“She continued to do that even after she became ill.”
Anna said that one of the things she was so grateful for was another recent holiday in France with Marguerita, David and other family members.
It was only a short time later that her mum booked another break to the same country for her and her husband. Anna said: “She wanted to take David to meet her nephew in Nice because her nephew hadn’t been able to make the first family gathering, which had been just outside Paris.”
It was while she was in Nice that Marguerita had a heart attack. “I don’t exactly know what happened yet but I think it was connected to her ongoing illness,” said Anna.
Marguerita was taken to hospital where she was put into a medically-induced coma and later died.
Anna added: “I don’t know when mum will be back yet but I’m hoping it will be this week.
“The funeral arrangements will be made once she’s home.”
Dozens of tributes have been paid to Marguerita on social media, and other family friends who gathered at Anna’s house also added their own.
Her best friend of more than 30 years, Araden Mahsoub, said Marguerita was an amazing person.
She added: “She was a very loyal friend and the closest thing to a sister that I had.”