Horse-drawn hearse accompanies Wendy Hodgson on her final journey

Mrs Hodgson, 85, made headlines in April last year after being one of the first patients to receive visitors while recovering from coronavirus at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.

She was born in Dore, Sheffield, and moved to Fryup in 1959 where she worked at the youth hostel as cook and caretaker for 30 years.

Mrs Hodgson moved to a cottage in Danby in October 2019 to live between her daughter-in-law on one side and her grandson on the other.

She successfully fought cancer three times as well as the successful battle with Covid and passed away peacefully at home on February 1.

Mrs Hodgson made her final journey in the back of a horse-drawn hearse from Danby Village Hall accompanied by son David and daughter-in-law Jacky on horseback.

Coronavirus restrictions on funerals meant that only 30 people were able to attend and mourners lined the way to pay their respects.

Jacky said: “Obviously we are very upset, but we wanted to do something special to mark her final journey. Both David and I will be riding behind.”

Mrs Hodgson had six children and six great grandchildren, all of whom live in the Whitby area.