THREE vicars and a 100 mourners have celebrated the life of an "incredible" woman who inspired her community.

Cissie Harrison, 98, made such an impact on the parish of West Rounton that when she died, there was not one vicar, but three, wanting to take her funeral.

On Tuesday, the Rev Ashley Wilson, vicar at St Oswald's, was joined by the Rev Brian Mayne and the Rev Tim Jones for the service.

Mr Mayne first met Mrs Harrison in 1986 when he became vicar of the parish. She was church treasurer and organist and a member of the parochial church council.

Though he left the area in 1996, he visited her each fortnight and she cooked him roast dinners.

He came back from Lancaster, where he works as a prison chaplain, for the funeral.

"Throughout, she was just an incredible woman," he said. "She had this amazing ability to bring out talents that people didn't even realise they had. She was an absolute treasure. Nothing was ever too much.

"There are very few people for whom two previous clergy would come back for. That's a measure of how special Cissie was. She brought out the best in everybody.

"All of us feel she gave to us more than we ever gave to her in terms of kindness and love. She had a huge impact on our lives and had the power to make you feel loved and supported.

"She never had a disparaging or discouraging word to say about anyone, but she would always stand up for the truth.

"If she saw something that was wrong or she didn't like, she was prepared to say that. She would never let anything go that she thought was wrong. She was just an amazing woman."

Mrs Harrison was one of four children and had lived in West Rounton since 1915. She left a daughter, Ann, and granddaughter, Sarah.

She played the church organ for the East and West Rounton churches from 1930-2001 and was also a PCC member during this time. She retired from both positions in 2001. From 1965-97 she was church treasurer.

In recognition of her contribution to the community, she was invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace in 1992.

A grey hearse took Mrs Harrison's coffin to the church and her coffin was adorned with flowers of yellow, orange and white. Mourners sang Abide with me and All people that on earth do dwell.

Afterwards, mourners gathered in the cemetery, where Mrs Harrison was laid to rest alongside her husband, Bill, whom she met in 1939.

Mrs Harrison was renowned for her ginger biscuits and would offer them to newcomers to welcome them to the village.

She had lived at Highfield care centre in Yarm since August 2003 and died on April 20.