THE funeral will take place today of a former Mayor of Bury.

Mrs Jacqui Adler, aged 70, died peacefully at Oak Lodge Nursing Home in Prestwich on Tuesday following a long illness.

She leaves a husband, Monty, and two children, Ruth and Sarah, who both shared the role of mayoress when their mother was the borough’s “first citizen” during 1987-88. Monty was also mayor in 1990-91.

Born in Chadderton, Mrs Adler became a Labour councillor for the Whitefield area and served on Bury Council for around 25 years until the mid-1990s.

One of her local authority roles was as chairman of the council’s twinning committee.

Mrs Adler, who lived in Douglas Close, Whitefield, was also heavily involved in charity work and was a member of several Lions clubs over the years. She was a past president of the Radcliffe and Whitefield club.

Daughter Ruth said: “Mum was a councillor and a charity worker. As mayor, she fulfilled the most engagements ever. And she worked with disabled children over many years and was herself a grandmother. She dedicated her whole life to other people.”

Paying tribute to Mrs Adler, Bury Council leader Cllr Mike Connolly said: “I’m really sad to hear that Jacqui has passed away.

She was a well-loved and long-serving councillor, with a larger than life personality, and she did the borough proud during her mayoral year.

My sympathies go to her husband Monty, who also served as Mayor of Bury, and to her family.”

The funeral service will be held in Bury Cemetery.